[Greens-Media] Labor green-lights East West tollway

[Elizabeth.Ingham at parliament.vic.gov.au]

Greens MPs Adam Bandt and Greg Barber have criticised a Gillard government 
decision not to require an environment impact statement for East West 
tollway roads and open cuts tunnels that will wreck Royal Park environment 
reserves and parkland.
 
"Minister Burke's decision to fast-track approval for the East West 
tollway shows Labor's opposition to the East West tollway is hollow,” 
Australian Greens Deputy Leader said today. 
 
“The Minister cannot hide behind the letter of the law. He has been more 
than happy to look for creative ways to halt other environmentally 
destructive projects, such as Alpine grazing, but here he has given the 
East West Tollway the green light instead of going the extra mile to stop 
this environmental vandalism."
 
"The tollway will be a pollution nightmare and wreck one of Melbourne’s 
great natural parks."
 
"If Labor is serious about Metro Rail they need to back my bill to 
‘Abbott-proof’ the funding and prioritise the rail project over the East 
West tollway," said Mr Bandt 

"The Environment Minister has been given virtually no information about 
the project, as have the Victorian public. How can he approve it based on 
a few squiggles on a map?" asked Victorian Greens leader Greg Barber 

"He should have asked for more information, or waited for an actual 
detailed proposal. He hasn't done his job here, which is to protect the 
environment and heritage." 

"I'll be writing to him asking for detailed reasons and getting my own 
legal opinion as to whether his decision is even lawful under the 
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act." 

"The federal Labor government has turned its back on Melbourne," said Mr 
Barber 
 
Contact: 
Greg Barber - 0433 044 771 
Damien Lawson (Adam Bandt) - 0487 900 005

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Liz Ingham
Office of Greg Barber MLC
Northern Metropolitan Region
Victorian Greens Leader

P: 9348 2622
M: 0409 333 595
E: elizabeth.ingham at parliament.vic.gov.au
W: http://mps.vic.greens.org.au


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Parliament of Victoria                                                                                                                    . 
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