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Cross Border Rail Report Biased in Government's Favour

Greens MP and transport spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has rejected the recommendations of the Cross Border Transport Task Force stating that the decision to rule out rail links between Southeast Queensland and northern NSW is a biased decision that only benefits the bus industry.

"The Task Force in delivering a report that will be popular with the NSW government has failed to respond to the growing community desire to revitalise rail services," Ms Rhiannon said.

"The anti-rail recommendations are not surprising. A Task Force document leaked to my office earlier this year revealed a one-sided analysis of submissions.

“The leaked interim report concluded that rail is too costly, inefficient, time consuming and cannot be justified on demographic grounds.

“Now the final report has been released, more than two years after the process commenced, it is apparent that this whole exercise has been a scam, running cover for promotion of local bus services as an alternative to rail.

“Transport Minister David Campbell is not obliged to accept these recommendations. He would be very foolish to use this prejudiced report to justify not supporting rail expansion in this region.
 
"The whole Task Force process demonstrates how dismissive the government is of the views of those who support rail in northern NSW. Individuals and community groups who took the time to make submissions have been largely ignored.
 
"The Task Force appears to have a one-track mind - that bus services not rail are the solution to Northern NSW's transport needs.

“As the government’s tactics behind establishing the Task Force were always apparent the recommendations are not surprising.

“We always knew that the key to winning the return of an expanded rail service lies with community action.

“The challenge of climate change and peak oil along with local pressure will eventually push the NSW government to come to their senses," Ms Rhiannon said.
 

Karin Kolbe of President of TOOT (trains on our tracks)  said, "This report is so ridiculous that it has invigorated the campaign. Thank you Minister for prompting several more people to contact me today to offer their support."

For more information:

contact Lee Rhiannon  9230 3551, 0427 861 568

contact TOOT http://www.toot.org.au/