Blogs

Thursday, 2 February 2012
95 STATIONS TO FACE CUTS TO SAFETY, SECURITY, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ACCESS FOR THE DISABLED

MINISTER MUST RULE OUT STATION STAFF CUTS

At least 95 stations risk losing their staff under the O'Farrell Government's cost cutting review of RailCorp – which will lead to unsafe stations and no special assistance for the disabled and elderly.

"The O'Farrell Government must rule out cuts to station staffing as part of the RailCorp review," Shadow Transport Minister, Penny Sharpe said today.  

MEDIA RELEASE: John Robertson MP, NSW Opposition Leader
Sunday, January 29, 2012

RAIL COMMUTERS PUT AT RISK - O’FARRELL DEAL ON WARATAH TRAINS WATERS DOWN SAFETY STANDARDS AND WILL STILL COST TAXPAYERS $175 MILLION

The O’Farrell Government has revealed that taxpayers will be forced to pay $175 million to a private consortium for the Waratah trains, but the Government is still refusing to say what changes have been made to the safety testing regime – sparking concerns that commuters will be put at risk.

For Labor in NSW, 2011 has been our annus horribilis. Labor members dusted themselves off from the election defeat and wondered what next. Here are my five thoughts for Labor as we turn the corner into 2012:

1.   The NSW Policy Forumwill shape what Labor Governments in NSW will seek to do. The Forum must be open, it must be transparent and it must be prepared to test and develop new ideas. Nothing should be off the table, but what finally is included must be rigorous, evidence based and the policy must resonate with people beyond the usual suspects.

2.   Community preselections are a way of involving more people and reaching out to supporters of Labor in our communities. The Party must work hard and put adequate resources into making sure we get this right.

3.   Direct election gives real power to party members and should be expanded. Direct election gave me the second opportunity in 22 years of party membership to actually cast a vote for candidates...and it was online. We need more.