[Greens-Media] RATTENBURY MEDIA RELEASE: CBR Liberals admit Canberra needs light rail

[Jaques, Alison]

MEDIA RELEASE
Shane Rattenbury MLA, ACT Greens Member for Molonglo

28 June 2016

CBR Liberals admit Canberra needs light rail

During a radio interview this morning Opposition Transport Spokesperson, Alistair Coe, admitted that, if the Liberals won government and cancelled the light rail contract, they would retain the plans for a future roll out of light rail.

In the interview Mr Coe said:

"We would still own the plans for the rail, the design work.  So we would have a shovel ready project if and when light rail does happen in 20-30-40 years down the track," said Alistair Coe on 666 ABC Canberra - 28 June 2016.

"It is clear that the Canberra Liberals are starting to realise that light rail is the necessary solution to Canberra's growing congestion problems," said Mr Rattenbury.

"But they have painted themselves into a corner with their anti-light rail propaganda and it seems they don't even believe the rhetoric they are sprouting.

"This begs the key question - if the Liberals accept that we will need light rail in 20 years time, why tear up the contracts now?

"It is both easier and cheaper to PLAN for the future and have the infrastructure in place before it is too late to address Canberra's growing congestion issues effectively.

"They are so wedded to their untenable position that not only they are prepared to burden the Canberra community with the substantial costs of cancelling the contract but they are also prepared to burden future generations with the inevitably increasing cost of the future construction.

"This shows a complete lack of vision from the opposition and demonstrates how ill-equipped the Liberal party is to take government.

"The Canberra Liberals have a history of being behind the eight ball when it comes to transport policy and planning.

"The Liberals originally opposed the introduction of the Red Rapid bus route and Mr Coe even moved a motion in the Assembly in 2009 opposing the West Belconnen route. He said: "It seems absurd to me that anyone would actually use this service."

"That is now one of the most successful routes in Canberra, and the Liberals have used this 'rapid' model as the basis for their proposed new bus network," said Mr Rattenbury.

"It's almost as if the Canberra Liberals are living a decade behind the rest of us. It is time they caught up to the 21st Century and faced the realities of our growing city," Mr Rattenbury concluded.


Statement ends

Ali Jaques | Media Adviser to Shane Rattenbury MLA
ACT Greens Member for Molonglo
Minister for Education; Minister for Justice and Consumer Affairs; Minister for Road Safety; Minister for Corrections.
t:  (02) 6205 3897 | m:  0481 035 764| alison.jaques at act.gov.au |
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