[Greens-Media] FW: WA doesn’t want dose of Roe 8 for Liberal roads addiction

[Drummond, Sam (Sen J. Rice)]

WA doesn’t want dose of Roe 8 for Liberal roads addiction
The Australian Greens have called on the Barnett government to release business case and costings for Roe 8, with real question marks hanging over the costly project.
“The Barnett government clearly sees Roe 8 as a hit for their roads addiction,” said the Australian Greens spokesperson for transport & infrastructure Senator Janet Rice.
“The community has every right to be up in arms: this will be WA’s first toll road and we don’t know how many tolls will be charged or what the cost will be.”
“The Victorian Liberals lost the ‘referendum on the East West Link’ and the WA government should take that as a warning.
“These polluting mega roads come at a massive cost and won’t fix congestion.
“The best way to take trucks off the Leach Highway is to put freight on rail.”
The basis for the Barnett government’s claims on costings and traffic reductions remain a complete mystery.
“The claim Roe 8 will take 500 trucks off the road is particularly dubious,” said Senator Rice.
“The Barnett government should release the business case and reveal where the money will come from.
 “They have already broken their election commitment to start construction on the first stage of the MAX light rail project in 2016 with commuters able to use the new rail by 2018 because of a lack of money.
“The people of WA have the right to know how the government can suddenly find $650 million to build an unwanted tollway to nowhere.”