Hugh McDermott for Prospect

At a public meeting in Penrith last night, Western Sydney residents have expressed alarm at Barry O'Farrell's decision to dump 5000 tonnes of radioactive waste at Kemps Creek – a stunning breach of his promise before the 2011 election.

Since taking office in March 2011, Barry O’Farrell and his Government have made a number of cuts to funding, jobs, workers’ rights and services. Here is an overview of what the workers of NSW have endured thus far.

Newly released documents reveal the O'Farrell Government is dumping radioactive waste - which needs to be monitored for the next 300 years - in Western Sydney.

The government's report into moving the waste reveals:

"Long term management and monitoring (and associated funding) arrangements would need to be implemented at the disposal site for at least 300 years." *

State Water will slash its capital expenditure on dam safety upgrades in order to meet the O'Farrell Government's dividend requirements, the NSW Labor Opposition has revealed.

The government owned State Water Corporation operates 21 dams in rural NSW, and its 2011/12 Statement of Corporate Intent reveals dam safety spending will be $120 million lower than previously budgeted over the next decade because of the O'Farrell Government's dividend policy.

by Luke Foley

 Nine days ago I visited the Putty Valley and met with local residents.

 The Putty Valley is mid way between Windsor and Singleton, nestled between the Wollombi and Yengo national parks, and within the electoral district of Upper Hunter and the local government area of Singleton.

 The O'Farrell Government's draft strategic land use policy gives Ministers the power to bypass independent scientific panels and approve Coal Seam Gas extraction licenses in secret at the cabinet table, the NSW Labor Opposition said today.

"The O'Farrell Government's draft strategic land use policy gives politicians the power to green light Coal Seam Gas extraction licenses, regardless of how close they are to homes and prime agricultural land," Opposition Leader, John Robertson said today.

by Richard Laidlaw

This month will be 12 months since the election of the O'Farrell government.

These are the top 10 actions that have demonstrated to me why the O'Farrell government cares little for the most vulnerable and cannot be trusted:

I’m sure you’ll have closely followed the leadership election.

I share the frustration of many Labor Party members when you see the Party turning inwards.

Well yesterday we put that behind us. I received the overwhelming support of my colleagues to continue as Labor’s Leader and as Prime Minister.  I thank them for their faith in me and my capacity to lead the nation.

Members of the ALP are passionate people – it’s because we have a great cause. And that is the welfare and the well-being of our great country.

Our determination to build a stronger and fairer Australia could not be greater – and ultimately, that outweighs everything else.

by Bob Carr

Speaking toCanberra public servants this week I discussed three case studies of reform from 1995-2005 in NSW state government. They were: turning the NSW police force from a poorly performing, corruption-prone police force into a professionally-performing, corruption-resistant police force; wiping out the rorts of plaintiff lawyers in tort law to increase payments to the injured; and restructuring forestry to secure jobs in a reformed timber industry but also declare 350 new National Parks.