[Greens-Media] FW: MEDIA RELEASE: 'Damning Parliamentary Report into Rail Cut in Newcastle Reconfirms Community Suspicions' (Greens NSW MP Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC)

[Matthew Hilton]

Media Release
18.12.14
Damning Parliamentary Report into Rail Cut in Newcastle Reconfirms Community Suspicions
Greens NSW MP and Spokesperson for Transport has stated that the interim report handed down by a parliamentary committee investigating planning decisions in Newcastle, has reaffirmed community suspicions that the decision to cut the Newcastle rail line has absolutely no credibility. The report has called on the NSW Government to suspend the cutting of the line until a cost benefit analysis is undertaken.

Dr Faruqi said:

"With just over a week to go until the Government plans to cut the Newcastle rail line, this parliamentary report reaffirms that there is absolutely no basis or evidence underlying this decision.

"The committee report has confirmed what the community has been saying for some time, that there is absolutely no public transport case for cutting rail services into the heart of the city and that there is no credible cost benefit analysis or business case.

"With public transport experts, the community and the parliamentary committee deeply concerned about the ill-conceived decision to cut the line, the question is, for whom is Premier Baird cutting this line?

"It's time for the Premier to get off his high horse, listen to the people of NSW and immediately reverse his decision to cut the Newcastle rail line.

"The Government has not been able to produce a shred of evidence in favour of cutting the line beyond empty one line statements- the people of Newcastle deserve better than to be treated with such contempt and be condemned to second rate public transport.

On the weekend, thousands of people joined to rally against the Liberal Government plans to cut the rail line in Newcastle - NSW may well be the first state in the world to rip up a direct connection between its largest and second largest cities" Dr Faruqi concluded.

The Inquiry Report: http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/276895D301BF5FD5CA257DB1007E0223?open&refnavid=CO4_1

Media contact: Matt Hilton for Dr Mehreen Faruqi 9230 2625| 0423 106 247