[Greens-Media] FW: MEDIA RELEASE: 'Greens Motion Passes Parliament Requiring Government Release of Newcastle Rail Papers' (Greens NSW MP Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC)

[Matthew Hilton]

Media Release
23.10.14
Greens Motion Passes Parliament Requiring Government Release of Newcastle Rail Papers
Greens NSW MP and Transport Spokesperson, Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC, has successfully moved a 'call for papers' motion which requires the Government to release key documents associated with the Government's decision to truncate the Newcastle rail line on Boxing Day 2014.

Dr Faruqi said:

"The community and the Greens have long been advocating for the release of any analysis of why the Government is cutting the line and have repeatedly been stonewalled by the Transport Minister. Now with the passing of this Greens 'call for papers' motion, the Government will be forced to release key documents, such as the cost-benefit analysis and key transport planning documents.

"The community is rightly sceptical about cutting a line to the centre of Newcastle, especially as their train service has some of the highest satisfaction levels across the NSW network.
"Now the community will be able to see for themselves what the government's true agenda is.

"If the Government's actions to date are anything to judge by, I suspect these papers will reveal there is no business or public transport case for cutting the line and this is all about a land grab for developers.

"With a parliamentary inquiry now examining planning decisions in Newcastle, and the vast majority of submissions to date focussing on the rail line truncation, the Government must suspend the decision to cut the line.

"It makes no social, economic or environmental sense to remove a valuable public transport service that brings commuters into the heart of Newcastle" she concluded.

Media Contact: Matt Hilton 0423 106 247

The motion: http://www.mehreenfaruqi.org.au/call-for-papers-on-newcastle-rail/