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The NSW Government is disrespecting ferry commuters by taking almost a year to respond to the Walker Inquiry and then threatening to privatise now because the power sell-off didn’t go through, said Manly MP Mike Baird.
“The Treasurer told Parliament in June, ‘no items in the infrastructure strategy are dependent upon the Government’s electricity plans’* and now he’s saying the ferries must be sold because there’s no money left** – he’s playing the public for fools,” Mr Baird said.
“After waiting almost a year for Government action on the Walker Inquiry and suffering many years of unreliability, commuters deserve more than this.
“It is the NSW Government that has maxed out the State’s credit card to the point we’re now on credit watch. Ferry commuters should not be sacrificed to make quick financial gains.”
Mr Baird said under Morris Iemma, NSW debt has increased from $14.7 billion in June 2006 to $22.2 billion two years later.
“Instead of getting a considered response to a thorough report on the future of the ferries, commuters get a load of spin from a Government trying to shift blame for the condition of the State’s finances.
“Mr Bret Walker SC delivered his report into Sydney Ferries on 1 November last year and the Minister for Transport said the Government would respond in early 2008.
“Once again the Iemma Government has missed its own deadline. It is now September and all we’ve heard is the Treasurer now thinks the ferries must be sold because the Government has run out of money.
“The ferries are an iconic part of Manly. There is no doubt there must be improvements to make the service more regular, reliable and affordable.
“That doesn’t mean selling the ferries as a knee-jerk response to get the Government out of its financial mess,” Mr Baird said.
MEDIA: Lisa Harrington - 0406 726 880
** ‘Costa to quit if cabinet rejects cutbacks’, The Weekend Australian, 30 August 2008
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