Keneally Claim Transport Plan is 'Fully Funded' Now in Doubt
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
In a clear indication the State Labor Government’s latest transport plan is yet another election scam the Premier failed to explain in Parliament today how her plan is "fully funded", Shadow Treasurer Mike Baird said today.
“Despite repeated claims to the media that her transport plan is fully funded, Kristina Keneally could not answer in Question Time today where the funds are coming from,” Mr Baird said.
“In an answer that showed an embarrassing lack of understanding of the detail, Ms Keneally did not know how much debt would be incurred or what additional taxes would be raised to pay for the plan,” he said.
“Once again the State Labor Government has shown it has no credibility on financial management.
“Simply saying a project is fully funded, doesn’t make it fully funded.
"Ms Keneally must explain how she will make up her $49.5 billion shortfall to pay for the plan – is it taxes, debt or fanciful revenue forecasts?
“Taxpayers are rightly sceptical this latest plan will be delivered, and Ms Keneally’s response today does nothing to allay these concerns.
“The State Labor Government has costed the latest North West rail link in the plan at $6.7 billion, yet this is more than $3 billion higher than the last Treasury costing in late 2006.
"Until the details of all costings, debt and revenue measures that underpin Ms Keneally's claim of fully funded are released, the claim cannot be believed.
“If Kristina Keneally cannot answer the very simple proposition of what role debt will play in funding this plan, how can we trust it will be delivered?
“The NSW Liberals & Nationals have committed to starting work on the South West and North West rail links in the first term, should we be elected next year.
“We are united, we are determined and we stand in stark contrast to the rabble that parades as the State Labor Government,” Mr Baird said.
MEDIA: Lisa Harrington - 0406 726 880
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Comments (9)
Funding reform
Mike, while right, there's a lot more to be said. Neither Christie or the Govt have got close to world best practice and Sydney continues to suffer in comparison with elsewhere. Neither met Infrastructure Aust or COAG standards. Levies and tolls hit families and better means are available. Watch this space.
Robert
liberal a reflection of labor
REPUBLIC THE OLD FASHION WAY WILL SORT EVERYONE OUT!!!!
The Labour Rabble on transport
Christene has a pleasant manner and is easy on the eye. Pity she is not able to manage NSW and is way out of her depth. Where has all our money we have been paying in taxes gone? Whenever there ia a new plan, and there are many new plans, they suddenly have to do a new tax to get some money. After 12 years of Labour we have gone backwards. Time for Barry, Mike and Gladys to take the reins.
Rail Policy Again
Alan Jones commented when Christina Kenneally was on his program to announce this project that she did not use one note!
She might well know her stuff to the point where she doesn't need to use notes. She should !
The ALP have repeated the announcing of this policy so often now that they would know it by heart. But everyone knows they have no money to implement it because of all the prior years of Labor mismanagement. And Labor doesn't have the where-with-all to fix it. So the pretty fairy stories will never happen.
How many times can one chew cud and still find it stimulating ??
Cheers
Melanie
fully funded rail link or fantasy funded
keep going good stuff mike
NW rail link
You criticise the labour government about funding their plan. How will you fund yours? What taxes will you increase or which services will you cut? How am I believe that your commitments aren't as pie in the sky as theirs?Why not start the rail link in the first year in office? Will you wait four years?
response to James
Hi James, I'm sure you've seen we've said we're happy to use considered debt and we're promoting infrastructure solutions such as Waratah Bonds (you can read more on the 10/10/09 media release). Thanks for constructively engaging. Cheers Mike
Sydney's Transport Needs
I have spent a little time this morning reviewing Ron Christie's 2001 report - The Long Term Strategic Plan for Rail - presented to the then Minister Carl Scully in June 2001. I can only lament the fact that this short sighted Labor Government ignored this vital advice from their Co-ordinator General of Rail. Basically we have seen a decade of planning and development (not to mention money!) squandered by the Government - I hope and pray that the Lib/Nats policy on transport can be as far sighted and detailed as Christie's submission. Businesses and households need certainty in their long-term planning, a fact that the ALP has never really understood. We can all applaud Barry Farrell's commitment to start the North West and South West links in the first-term, but can this please be projected across the whole transport planning grid? Presenting a plan, and a way out of the mess will reap real dividends to the party that presents it.
Vehicular travel for Country People
Vehicular travel will soon be unaffordable for country people, especially those on low incomes.
