[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Govt Dudded As PNT Terminates Investment_T Morris MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

PN WALKS FROM KEY PART OF RAIL DEED TODAY

$19 Million Locomotive Restoration Abandoned

Tim Morris MP
Greens Shadow Infrastructure Spokesperson

Thursday, 28 August 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today revealed that Pacific National Tasmania has
advised the Government that as of today it has terminated its $38
million rolling stock investment which is critical to ensuring that the
locomotives and wagons are up to the task of hauling trains.  

Greens Shadow Infrastructure spokesperson Tim Morris MP said that the
effect of PNT's decision is that the three year locomotive refurbishment
program that is critical to keeping trains running in Tasmania will now
not proceed at least whilst Asciano still owns PNT; putting at risk the
ability of the company to fulfil its obligations to customers.

 "Pacific National Tasmania today terminated its $38 million rolling
stock investment commitment, which includes the critical $19,320,000
refurbishment of its 2000 class locomotives that was to be completed by
the end of the 3rd year of the agreement and involved nearly $10 million
this year," Mr Morris said.

"Minister Sturges today misled the Parliament in question time when he
denied that PNT had an obligation to invest about $10 million this year;
but Attachment C of the Rail Maintenance and Management Deed clearly
lays out the commitment that PNT signed up to." 

 "The Labor government was dudded when allowed a provision to be put
into the Rail Deed that has enabled Pacific National Tasmania to curtail
their critical $38 million investment in the rolling stock."



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