[Greens-Media] Federal Transport Inquiry Report: Rees must get house in order or miss funding

[Lee Rhiannon]

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon - 20 August 2009 - Media Release

Federal Transport Inquiry Report:  Rees must get house in order or miss
funding
 
Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said today's report of a Federal Senate Inquiry
into Public Transport sends a clear message that the NSW government must
develop rigorous public transport plans to be in the running for
Commonwealth funding, or miss out. Ms Rhiannon called on Premier Rees to
heed the report's message about the benefits of public transport for the
environment, public health and the economy.
 
Federal Greens Senator Scott Ludlam initiated this inquiry that
reported today:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/rrat_ctte/public_transport/report/index.htm

 
"This report again shows why the NSW government's shambolic public
transport plans must be finessed to take advantage of the significant
economic, environmental and social benefits of world class public
transport for Sydney," Ms Rhiannon said. 
 
"A key recommendation is that Commonwealth funding will only flow after
an assessment of whether the state government has adopted an integrated,
inter-modal, best-practice approach to transport planning and management
(Rec 4).
 
"NSW Labor's public transport record is dismal, with a string of
delayed or canned projects. This inquiry calls for 'catch-up' transport
planning to get Sydney moving.
 
"Infrastructure Australia has already snubbed the NSW government and
refused funding for key projects like the Western metro because it
judged NSW is not up to the job of turning public transport plans into
reality. 
 
"This new report against underlines why it is imperative that NSW
invest in public transport. It recognises what the NSW government has
been blind to for a decade. 
 
"The report sees the value of investing in public transport over
motorways, saying roads encourage car use and entrench poor urban
development.  It covers a key issue of our age * global oil shortages
and the need to manage our oil dependence. 
 
"The inquiry emphasises the value of public transport to reducing
greenhouse gas emissions, boosting the economy and improving public
health.
 
"The Minister for Transport David Campbell should study this report and
develop coherent, thorough transport plans for Sydney that enable his
government to take advantage of Commonwealth funding and a boost to
public transport services.   
 
For more information:9230 3551, 0427 861 568

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Lee Rhiannon, MLC
The Greens
Parliament of New South Wales
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 
Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
lee.rhiannon at parliament.nsw.gov.au
http://www.lee.greens.org.au/
http://www.democracy4sale.org/ 
http://twitter.com/leerhiannon

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