[Greens-Media] Could the Government be lying about a branch line auditreport?

[Alison Orme]

MEDIA RELEASE - 16 March 2005

Could the Government be lying about a branch line audit report?

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon says the more digging around she does into the
whereabouts of an audit report commissioned by the Government into
NSW's branch lines the more she's beginning to think the
Government is telling lies.

"NSW's Upper House unanimously called for a release of an audit of
NSW's rail branch lines by engineering consultants GHD Pty Ltd, but
the government responded by saying they don't have it," Ms Rhiannon
said.

 "I don't like to call anyone liars, but all the evidence leads me
to think the Government must have seen this report. 

"Why would the Government commission such a critical report but not
bother to get a copy?

 "The Greens have been given legal documents showing that the audit
report was to be submitted to various NSW Government agencies. 

"The Government has thrown a shroud of confidentiality over the
entire audit process. 

"The Ministry of Transport asked the Rail Infrastructure Corporation,
the authors of the audit and the NSW Farmers Association to sign a
confidentiality agreement.

"The agreement required them to zip up their mouths and throw away
the key.

"To its credit, NSW Farmers refused to sign because it believed there
should be free and open discussion on the results of the audit.

"This agreement puts a bar on the Ministry itself from speaking
publicly on the audit. Maybe this is what the Government is relying on
in not going public with the report.

"I challenge the Minister for Transport to tell us why this report
can't be released. 

"At least then the community can assess whether they are valid
reasons or not. 

 "These branch lines were built with public money and despite 10
years of rapid corporatisation by the Government, the state of them is
still a matter of great public concern, particularly in rural and
regional communities," Ms Rhiannon said.

Contact:  Alison Orme (02) 9230 3551,  0408 976 707




Alison Orme (Tues, Wed & alternate Thurs)
Policy Adviser
Lee Rhiannon, MLC
The Greens
NSW Parliament
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
ph 02 9230 3549
mob 0432 332 104
fax 02 9230 3550
email: alison.orme at parliament.nsw.gov.au
http://www.lee.greens.org.au