WE HAVE NICK GREINER'S PLAN – WHERE'S BARRY O'FARRELL'S?

MEDIA RELEASE | Wednesday, 3 October, 2012

John Robertson MP, NSW Opposition Leader
Penny Sharpe MLC, Shadow Minister for Transport

WE HAVE NICK GREINER'S PLAN – WHERE'S BARRY O'FARRELL'S?

It's time for Barry O'Farrell to tell the people of NSW what roads, rail lines, schools and hospitals will be built under his Government - when they will start, when they will finish and how much they will cost, said Opposition Leader, John Robertson today.

The call follows the release of the long awaited report from Infrastructure NSW outlining 70 projects it recommends be built in the next 20 years.

"We now have Nick Greiner's plan – where's Barry O'Farrell's?" said Mr Robertson.

"This is the third plan to be released in three months under Barry O'Farrell but we still don't know what the Premier will build, how he'll pay for it, or when it'll be finished.

"Of the 70 projects recommended by Infrastructure NSW today – the Premier has backed two.

"After 18 months in government, the people of NSW expected more from the man who promised to 'Make NSW Number 1 Again'.

"Even the West Connex project is not fully funded – with the Premier announcing less than 20 per cent of the funding needed to get the project completed.

"The Government must guarantee today that no motorists will be forced to pay new tolls on roads they've already paid for – to fill the Premier's funding black hole."

Shadow Transport Minister Penny Sharpe said the Infrastructure NSW directly contradicts the Government's Transport Masterplan released last month.

"A dark cloud now hangs over several projects announced only last month including the Second Harbour Crossing and light rail for the Sydney CBD," said Ms Sharpe.

"What is the status of these projects and will they ever be built?

"No Second Harbour Crossing means there will be no direct trains from the North West to the CBD, in a huge broken promise from Barry O'Farrell."

Mr Robertson said health and education will once again lose out under Infrastructure NSW's recommendations.

"Schools and hospitals have been relegated to the bottom of the priority list following $4.7 billion in cuts to education and health spending under Barry O'Farrell," he said.

"The plan recommends that 90 per cent of new students be funnelled into existing schools – which will lead to overcrowding and increased class sizes across the state.

"No new funding for health and hospitals will mean longer waiting times and compromised patient care."