If I head down to my local coffee shop it doesn't take long before the question comes forth from someone sitting on the unique tree stump chairs - so why is this State in such a mess?

Trying to explain one policy failure after another can prove tiresome however, the recent decision by the NSW Labor Government to award the Manly fast ferry contract to a new company now makes it easy for all to see.

I am not having a go at the new operator, and indeed we all wish them all the best in delivering the best possible ferry service, but the tender has ensured that the odds are stacked against them. The State Government in its wisdom decided that the best way to run this tender was to ask every bidder to name the highest possible price they would pay for wharf access. In other words the critical requirement was whoever offered the largest up-front payment to the Government. This company would then be rewarded with the right to run the service for five years.

In a case of repeating a somewhat grim history, we all remember the Government’s masterstroke decision to use infrastructure to raise revenue through the Lane Cove Tunnel and Cross City Tunnel. Well if you don't remember, the game goes like this… the Government takes large amounts of cash from the operators, this then pushes up the costs of the project paid for by higher tolls from unsuspecting commuters and finally results in barricades being erected in our community streets to force as many as possible to pay the inflated toll price. Probably worst of all these barricades are then often found at some of life’s most time critical moments (anyone with a two year old knows what I mean!).

We have had words to the effect that this policy was wrong however, if the Manly fast ferry contract is anything to go by, the cash registers in Macquarie Street are again ringing with another opportunity to claim revenue over any form of community interest.

It is not without irony that the current private operators of the Manly Fast Ferry have seen patronage grow by 47% since the JetCats were last running, compared to Sydney Ferries where patronage grew by close to 2%. At the same time Sydney Ferries last year had a cancellation just over every 16 services compared to one every 2000 services for the private operator. In terms of a direct comparison they have exceeded their only competitor at every turn.

So what did the current operators do wrong? Well they didn't pay enough for wharf access and the commuters will now have to start paying this back. This is before you add in the $7 million per annum the State Government is saving by axing their service in the first place.

So there we have it - Government in NSW under the current regime is about raising revenue by any possible means and forgoing community interest in the process. As you shake your head it is not a Fawlty Towers skit but Government NSW-style 2010. And if you want to know why we are in such a mess, this tender is a standout piece in the rubble.

So what would the Opposition do differently? We would issue tenders on the basis of the best community outcome. In the case of ferries it would be the lowest possible fares, best possible service and newest vessels – not cash to Government.

As it now sits, the NSW Government has jeopardised the only transport service that was working in the State.

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