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Action for Public Transport (N.S.W.) Inc.

2007 Federal Election - a rail opportunity for Labor

posted Wednesday 7 November 2007
APTNSW wrote the following letter to the Editor of the Sydney Morning Herald, but it was not published-

Dear Sir,

The prime minister’s politically timed, roads biased, transport pork barrel for Sydney has created just the policy vacuum Kevin Rudd needed to demonstrate the vision required of a new leader.

Labor should undertake to build Sydney’s first “Metro” railway.

The Feds have the money. NSW says it has not. It is generally agreed that Australia’s next government must address climate change, peak oil, and environmental sustainability. The new railway, powered by renewable electricity, with a totally new industrial relations agreement, would free Sydney commuters from the apparently insoluble IR and “cultural” problems plaguing the state’s transport boffins. Australia is said to be the only developed country which does not already enjoy direct federal funding of urban public transport. Howard’s throwing of money at roads, ignoring transit, is blatantly populist, and will be seen as such by the informed sector of the electorate. The first metro line, Malabar to West Ryde, already promoted by state Labor, would serve the sensitive seats of Wentworth at the eastern end and Bennelong at the other. As metros work best in an X pattern, a closely-following second line could benefit other sensitive electorates; Robertson (Central Coast) and Lindsay (St Marys to Emu Plains).

While he’s at it, Mr Rudd could tackle other overdue transport issues; tax reform to discourage urban four-wheel-drives, reinstatement of fuel levy indexation, and end the “March Rally” madness of the fringe benefits tax rorts on company cars.

But does federal Labor have the vision?

APTNSW - 5 November 2007.



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