The Rees Government has argued it needed to significantly increase the parking levy to reduce traffic congestion in CBD centres, however FOI documents reveal no research was done to substantiate that claim, Shadow Treasurer Mike Baird said today.

“Here is another example of the Rees Labor Government’s culture of looking for headlines or revenue while pretending it is implementing good policy,” said Mr Baird.

Treasury documents obtained by the NSW Liberal & Nationals have revealed “little research” was done into the “effectiveness of the PSL [Parking Space Levy]*, which was almost doubled by the Rees Labor Government in last year’s Mini Budget.

“The approach to budgeting and finance by NSW Labor has clearly been to raise revenue wherever they can and find a reason later,” Mr Baird said.

“It’s back of the envelope stuff from an incompetent Labor Government. In terms of strategic thought about the impact of the levy on congestion, there’s been absolutely none.

"Eric Roozendaal agreed to almost double the levy without considering whether public transport could cope or indeed whether the increase would have any effect.

"As cities around the world cope with the challenges of peak oil and rising congestion through considered policies, the Rees Labor Government takes the revenue and runs.

"The parking levy was introduced without any consultation of industries impacted and now it is revealed it was done without any analysis.

“It is another example of the State Labor Government’s failure and incompetence and certainly casts further doubt on how financial decisions are made in this State.”

The Rees Labor Government is expected to collect an additional $50 million from the increase in the parking space levy this financial year.

"We call on Eric Roozendaal to undertake the required analysis to determine the impact of the levy on traffic flows and demand for public transport.

“The Treasurer must transparently reveal how funds his Government receives from the levy are improving public transport and not just going back into general revenue,” he said.

Write Comment

Please keep the topic of messages relevant to the subject of the article. Personal verbal attacks will be deleted. Please don't use comments to plug your web site. Such material will be removed.
Name:
E-mail
Subject:
Comment:
Code:*

Comments (4)