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GWS Federal Election Tracker
It is now an election year, and Greater Western Sydney is already at the heart of the action.
The Dialogue is excited to launch an official election commitment tracker, marking down each major party promise to GWS ahead of the national poll.
The major parties have begun rolling out policies and promises to win over key battleground seats in Sydney’s west.
Each commitment will be documented by our tracker to keep on top of the billions of dollars that are expected to be promised in the region.
Why One Billion for 15th Avenue is Essential
This is what a 15th Avenue upgrade in Liverpool could do.
Dialogue CEO, Adam Leto, spoke to ABC Radio Sydney’s new morning show host, Hamish Macdonald, to discuss why the major $1 billion commitment to upgrade 15th Avenue is so important.
”This is Western Sydney’s airport and It needs to connect to Western Sydney,” Mr Leto said.
“it needs to link business and residents to the jobs and opportunities that the airport’s going to provide.
“It will connect them directly to the Bradfield City Centre which is being built by the state government with federal support, which will have a metro stop, be home to new industries and eventually new homes”.
Top Poll Priorities
With three major GWS announcements pledging a total of $1.68 billion in January, the election in GWS has well and truly kicked off.
As the shadow election campaign rolls on, the Dialogue’s housing, health, education, transport, skills and infrastructure priorities for the federal government are more important than ever.
Here are a few key pillars we are advocating for prior to the election and a potential budget.
Housing
Despite making gains to increase housing supply, Australia remains stubbornly behind on meeting housing targets. GWS will do its fair share, which is why it is important to protect the HAFF funding pool, to ensure community housing partners and other stakeholders have certainty as we get on track to deliver more housing.
Transport
The Dialogue’s priority is for the federal government to contribute to a major north and south west Sydney rail package including:
- A South West connection that links Bradfield to Leppington (via Bradfield South) and from Bradfield South to Macarthur via Oran Park.
- A northern extension from St Marys to Tallawong via Schofields
Education
The care economy is booming in the west. The federal government should designate Campbelltown TAFE as a Care Economy Centre of Excellence specialising in nursing, health and social care, disability and early childhood education to meet the growing needs of the region.
Read more of our priorities here.
Airport City Summit Returns
The Airport City Summit is back for 2025.
Featuring Federal, State, and Local Government leaders alongside key industry stakeholders including WSI CEO Simon Hickey and Bradfield Development Authority CEO, Ken Morrison the Airport City Summit will mark critical progress toward the opening of Western Sydney International Airport in late 2026.
Off the back of the Federal and NSW Government’s $1 billion investment in 15th Avenue, connecting Liverpool to the Airport City, NSW Roads Minister, Hon. John Graham MLC, will discuss the next step to ensure the cities of Greater Western Sydney can access WSI.
The event will feature high-level stakeholders from the public and private sectors discussing:
- Bradfield City
- WSI getting ready for take-off
- Future Workforce in the Airport City
- Attracting Global Investment
- Urban Development & Housing
- Transport & Connectivity

Bus Boost for North West Sydney
In September 2023, the Dialogue urged the NSW Parliamentary inquiry into current and future transport needs for Western Sydney to consider using bus services to immediately address gaps in public transport access for the North West and South West growth areas.
We encouraged the government to consider investigating a significant re-design of existing bus networks, and the provision of new funding for contract operators to deliver expanded services and new routes.
After almost 18 months, we are glad to see the NSW Government deliver longer operating hours and increased frequency for areas including Tallawong, Rouse Hill, Riverstone, Box Hill, Bella Vista and North Kellyville.
It also means residents can opt for public transport instead of private vehicles with the bus routes carrying more residents to the newly opened North West Metro line.
We hope short-term solutions for South West Sydney are on the horizon.
Read our full submission here.
Congratulations Mike Mrdak AO
Congratulations to Dialogue Patron, Mike Mrdak AO, who has been appointed by the Albanese Government to serve as deputy chair of the Western Sydney Airport Corporation Board for a three-year term.
Mike brings a wealth of experience to this important role following a 32-year career in the Australian Public Service which included eight years as Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development and three years as Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Communications and the Arts.
Mr Mrdak also has extensive knowledge of the aviation sector, airport economics and regulation.
