[Greens-Media] Grain on rail crisis: govt says ‘matter is not urgent’

[Alison Orme]

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon - Media Release - 28 February 2008

Grain on rail crisis: govt says ‘matter is not urgent’ 
Labor waters down Greens motion, removing call for ‘Emergency Rail
Response Plan’

Greens MP and transport spokesperson Lee Rhiannon today said Rural
Affairs Minster Tony Kelly had insulted grain growers and rural
communities by arguing that the export grain haulage crisis ‘is not
urgent’, in an attempt to block debate on a Greens’ motion calling
on the government to implement an ‘Emergency Rail Response Plan’.

“The Minister for Rural Affairs should immediately apologise to grain
growers and rural communities and commit to developing an Emergency Rail
Response Plan,” Ms Rhiannon said.

“Minister Kelly spoke against the urgency of the motion. Labor then
moved to water down the Greens motion, removing the call for an
‘Emergency Rail Response Plan’.

“The Greens were successful in ensuring NSW Parliament debate this
important issue.

“The final motion, which Labor managed to amend and get passed with
the support of the Shooters Party, was an exercise in
self-congratulation. 

“In amending the motion, Labor revealed that nothing solid has yet
been planned to tackle this crisis, or that more urgent action is
needed. 

“Both Labor and the Opposition also wiped out the Greens call for the
government to return rail grain haulage to public hands. 

“Rural communities are bearing the brunt of the NSW government’s
rail haulage mismanagement at a time when a bumper crop is expected

“Transport Minister John Watkin’s emerged with no solutions from
his Tuesday meeting with industry players and experts. 

“It is time the government brought forward their short and long term
plans. Minister Kelly should actively work with the Minister for
Transport to develop an Emergency Rail Response Plan. 

“The NSW Farmers Association has warned that road transport will not
be able to fill the gap if rail cannot cope with the crisis. 

“While Pacific National may not have done anything illegal in
refusing to continue transporting export grain it has clearly acted
immorally in turning its back on rural communities.

 “NSW farming communities have done it tough with the drought, which
continues in some areas. They are now suffering the results of the
government’s failure to invest in rail infrastructure and its fixation
with privatisation,” Ms Rhiannon said. 

For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568

Greens Original Grain on Freight Motion

102.	Ms Rhiannon to move—

1. 	That this House notes:

(a)	the recent announcement by Pacific National that it will no
longer transport export grain in New South Wales, in order to
concentrate on more profitable coal haulage, 

(b)	that when Pacific National bought the Federal Government-owned
National Rail Corp and New South Wales Government-owned FreightCorp for
$1.2 billion in 2001, the contractual agreement involved a price
reduction of $118 million in return for a commitment to grain haulage
and infrastructure upgrades, 

(c)	that Pacific National withdrew from transporting export grain
following the expiration of the formal obligation, 

(d)	that if the grain is not transported by rail the only
alternative is road haulage, which would put tens of thousands of extra
trucks on rural and regional roads, thereby increasing the safety risks
to other road users, costing the state millions of dollars in increased
road maintenance, as well as increased noise and air pollution, traffic
congestion and greenhouse gas emissions, 

(e)	that transporting grain by rail requires one third less diesel
fuel per tonne than trucks, and

(f)	that if the New South Wales Government fails to ensure this
export grain crop is moved to New South Wales ports by rail there will
be significant job losses, and that the lost expertise will be very
difficult to replace. 

2. 	That this House calls on the Governme
nt to:

(a) 	implement an Emergency Rail Response plan to ensure sufficient
rolling stock is made available to transport the current grain crop to
New South Wales ports,

(b) 	clarify the status and future of the contractual obligations of
the “Broadacre funds”,

(c) 	confirm if all the commitments made by Pacific National with
regard to the purchase of new rolling stock and locomotives have been
honoured,

(d) 	ensure the existence of an effective grain rail network as part
of an overall integrated transport strategy for the movement of grain,
and

(e) 	guarantee the provision of rail grain haulage as a critical
infrastructure service for the State, and do so by buying back the
Freight Rail Corporation. 




Alison Orme
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Wed-Fri)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0432 332 104
Email alison.orme at parliament.nsw.gov.au 
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au