I wasn't at the meeting, but it has got me thinking about the performance of each level of government on this issue over the years (Warringah Council excepted, its performance is obviously entirely unsatisfactory) and just how important it is that we get off on the right foot with the NSW Liberals.
Federal Liberal government (1996 - 2007)
During the Super League/Northern Eagles era there was a high likelihood that Brookie would turn into a white elephant because we wouldn't have a club, so I wouldn't have expected to receive much funding from the Federal Liberals during this time (and I don't recall anyone even asking for it).Â
Call me cynical, but I wouldn't expect funding unless it was an election promise so that means our opportunities to obtain funding from the Liberals were the 2004 election and the 2007 election. As far as I can recall no funding was offered in 2004. Funding was offered by Abbott in 2007 but the Libs lost the election.
Overall, it was disappointing that we didn't get some funding from them but not particularly surprising given the prevailing circumstances during most of their time in power.
Federal Labor Government (2007-)
I wouldn't expect funding for a football stadium in a blue ribbon seat to be high on the agenda for a new government, particularly when they have had the GFC and a change of leadership to deal with in the short period they have been in office.
I expect nothing here, and that is what they are delivering.
NSW Labor Government (1995-)
Overall, I can't really be too critical of NSW Labor in their approach to funding Brookvale Oval. While $6m is hardly enough, they did give us something. Of course they spent most of the money looking after their own in Labor seats and shoring up marginals, but that's what political parties do. Their performance on this issue is much better than their performance on transport and health. Perhaps they even foresaw that Warringah Council would squander the money.
NSW Liberal Government (2011-)
This is our best opportunity in more than a decade and a half to secure some substantial funding and some real action on Brookie. Safe Labor seats got funding for stadiums when Labor was in power, now it is our turn.
We need to secure funding as a promise for THIS election, otherwise we will have to wait four long years. It sounds to me from Jono's report that the club needs to go into damage control and mend the damage that has been done. This is a opportunity that our club cannot afford to miss.