[Greens-Media] Mini-budget makes public transport users biggest losers

[Lee Rhiannon]

Media release - 11 November 2008
 
Mini-budget makes public transport users biggest losers 

Greens MP and transport spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said that the mini budget cannot meet Premier Nathan Rees' promise that it will set up NSW for the next 10 years as it contains no major public transport infrastructure investment. 

"The Premier's unwillingness to commit to borrowing money for new heavy rail infrastructure is a major failure of the mini-budget," Ms Rhiannon said. 

"Public transport is critical to a healthy economy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Major rail projects should have been a key feature of the mini-budget.

"It is time that Labor leaders stopped being intimidated into running surplus budgets. 

"People understand that the economy at times needs to go into deficit to pay for major infrastructure projects. 

"The development of major rail projects would create jobs and play a key role in rebuilding the economy.

"The mini budget reveals that the government's public transport plan is nothing more than providing Sydney with more buses and a few road upgrades.

"There is already a question mark over the operations of the 300 additional buses. The government needs to explain where the additional staff to drive and administer the buses will come from as the mini-budget has frozen all new staff positions.

"A bus without a driver is no solution to Sydney's public transport woes.

"The government must commit to public transport in Sydney's growth areas. Encouraging new homeowners to build in areas without public transport is negligent in this era of peak oil and climate change. 

"Sydney's north and south west urgently needs new heavy rail infrastructure because this is a key to job creation and economic prosperity. 

"There is no vision or long term planning in this mini budget.
 
"The mini budget reveals that this government still has faith in the failed model of public private partnerships to fund major transport projects", Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information: Lee Rhiannon 9230 3551, 0427 861 568