[Greens-Media] (Shoebridge MLC) Roozendaal waits for a report on a report

[Colin Hesse]

Media Release
 
>From David Shoebridge, Greens MP and spokesperson for the Illawarra 
 
13 September  2010   - For immediate use
 
Roozendaal waits for a report on a report
 
"New Minister for the Illawarra Eric Roozendaal has failed his first test for the Illawarra according to Greens MP David Shoebridge.
 
 "It was a simple question, given a July 2009 Commonwealth report gave the Maldon to Dombarton railway line solid support, when will the NSW Government commit to actually complete it? asked Mr Shoebridge, Greens MLC and spokesperson for the Illawarra.
 
"Mr Roozendaal, who is now both treasurer and Minster for the Illawarra, whose formal response in Budget Estimates today was that the State Government would wait until next year for yet another Federal Government report before it sets aside a single dollar to complete the rail link.  
 
"This is an outstanding failure for the Illawarra even by this Government's low standards.
 
"A report to the Federal Government last year gave strong support for completing the Maldon Dombarton rail line which would link Port Kembla to the main south rail line into Sydney.  The report confirmed the significant economic benefits of the railway both in the construction phase, and in its operation.  Not only would it provide a quick link between the Illawarra and the growth centres in South West Sydney, it would also reduce road traffic, noise and air pollution in the Illawarra.  Importantly if it was built, it would free up the Illawarra line to allow it to provide more frequent and reliable passenger service within the Illawarra and to central Sydney.
 
"Perhaps the Government is hoping that people will not notice that this railway, stopped mid-construction by the Greiner Liberal Government, is already thirty seven years late. Already the time taken between beginning construction and completion of the project has exceeded the famously late Eastern Suburbs rail line, which took thirty two years to complete.
 
"The Minister's response that he will simply wait for a report into a report is typical of Labor's poor treatment of the Illawarra.   This is a lazy government that simply expects the locals to vote Labor as they loyally have in the past.
 
"That loyalty has been betrayed, where the Government can no longer find a single Labor member in the Illawarra it trusts to be a Minister, and at Government level where the new Minister's policy is to do nothing on a project of significant economic, social and environmental value to the region.
 
"Minister Roozendaal's inaction treats the Illawarra with contempt" said Mr Shoebridge.
 
 
Contact:  David Shoebridge 0408 113 952 or Colin Hesse (Media officer) on 02 9230 3030 or 0401 719 124