[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: Greens MP moves for Inquiry into WestConnex: Government must commit to transparency (Greens NSW Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC)

[Mehreen Faruqi]

Media Release
30/5/2014
Greens MP moves for Inquiry into WestConnex: Government must commit to transparency
Greens NSW MP and Roads Spokesperson, Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC has given notice of a parliamentary inquiry into the WestConnex Tollway. With Infrastructure Australia and even the incoming WestConnex head, Dennis Cliche concerned about risks of WestConnex's numbers and transparency processes, the Government must commit to transparency.

"While the Government is adamant about keeping the community in the dark about the WestConnex tollway, this week I moved a motion to establish an inquiry into this whole deeply troubling process.
"It is a worrying sign that even the incoming head of WestConnex is concerned about the lack of public information on the project and the risks of traffic forecasts not being accurate.

"Earlier this year, Federal Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon's questioning revealed that even Infrastructure Australia had not received a detailed cost-benefit analysis on the WestConnex project and that they had no confidence in the methodology, despite billions of dollars being fast tracked from the Federal Government into this expensive tollway.

"The Government keeps saying that there is a cost benefit ratio of 2.5, but there has been no transparency on the evidence underpinning this analysis. If the Government thinks the numbers on the WestConnex tollway stack up, they should release the business case.

"The Environmental Impact Statement has not even been put on public display yet, but the Government is already pushing ahead with the project. It is very clear that community consultation means nothing to this Government.

"It is also completely unacceptable that the public will shoulder the risk of traffic forecasts and pay tolls, including the re-tolling of the M4.

"The community has asked for transparency and nothing short of a parliamentary inquiry is required to untangle the mess that is the WestConnex tollway.

"We all know that Sydney has a congestion problem, but WestConnex will not reduce congestion, rather it will contribute to pollution and global warming as well as suck away massive public funds from investment into real, integrated transport solutions for the 21st Century", she concluded.

Media Contact: Matt Hilton 0423 -106 -247

The Terms of Reference for the Inquiry: http://www.mehreenfaruqi.org.au/notice-of-motion-inquiry-into-westconnex/



AFR Story:

http://www.afr.com/p/business/companies/eastlink_boss_to_steer_westconnex_p0B02KebUXTZztTRMigKzK



Online Version: http://www.mehreenfaruqi.org.au/greens-mp-moves-for-inquiry-into-westconnex-government-must-commit-to-transparency/


Matt Hilton
Legislative, Policy and Media Adviser

Office of Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC
Legislative Council | NSW Parliament
E: matthew.hilton at parliament.nsw.gov.au<mailto:matthew.hilton at parliament.nsw.gov.au>
P: (02) 9230 2625 | M: +61423106247|F: facebook.com/mehreenfaruqi | T: @MehreenFaruqi | W: mehreenfaruqi.org.au
Mail: Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

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