CATHERINE KING MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MEMBER FOR BALLARAT
 
SENATOR GLENN STERLE
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR ROAD SAFETY
CHAIR OF THE RURAL AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT REFERENCE COMMITTEE
LABOR SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA

GRAHAM PERRETT MP

SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR EDUCATION

MEMBER FOR MORETON

INLAND RAIL BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD

The Senate Inquiry into the Management of the Inland Rail project yesterday heard that the Morrison Government has no plan where Inland Rail will start, where it will end, the route it will take or how it will interact with existing stations up and down the country.

Appearing before the Senate Inquiry, the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) confirmed that the Morrison Government has yet to determine where the route will start in Melbourne, while in Brisbane the proposal to end the route in Acacia Ridge is “under review”.

While Labor is glad that the ARTC has finally listened to local communities, we remain seriously concerned regarding the future of this project.

Under the Deputy Prime Minister’s stewardship, total costs for this project have already blown out from $9.3 billion to $14.5 billion without any clarity being provided on the shape the actual line will take. 

This project is too important to stuff up, but that is exactly what the Morrison Government is doing.

Graham Perrett, Federal Member for Moreton has been talking to locals in and around Acacia Ridge for some time about the impact Inland Rail would have on their suburb and he knows that residents are concerned about the Inland Rail ending in Acacia Ridge.

Graham said “There is no plan to get goods from Acacia Ridge to the Port of Brisbane.  Locals are worried about more trucks and more noise and pollution on suburban streets. I welcome a review of the proposal to end in Acacia Ridge but wherever the rail ends there should be proper consultation with locals who will be affected.”

The Deputy Prime Minister finally needs to demonstrate leadership on this important national project and tell affected communities, the freight industry and the Parliament exactly how this project will be delivered, when it will be completed and how much it will actually end up costing Australian taxpayers.

FRIDAY, 23 APRIL 2021