O'Farrell will derail metro whatever the cost

[annielaurie]

O'Farrell will derail metro whatever the cost

The New South Wales Opposition has committed to scrapping Sydney's multi-billion-dollar CBD metro rail project during construction, no matter what the cost to the taxpayer ...

The State Government has set the price tag for the metro at no more than $5.3 billion but costings published by News Limited today estimate the bill to be $2 billion more.

The costings, put forward by companies bidding for metro projects, outline extra expenses, including tunnelling twice under Sydney Harbour.

The CBD Metro Authority says the figures are wrong and tender documents for the tunnelling are not due until late November.

Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell has seized on the reports, saying he will kill off the CBD metro if he wins the next election.

According to the Government's plans, the tunnels will already be under construction by that time.

"If there's any compensation over and above $50 million, it will hang around the neck of Nathan Rees," Mr O'Farrell told ABC 702 Sydney Local Radio.

"We will not be held back from scrapping the project and if that involves a waste of taxpayer dollars, that will be on the head of Mr Rees and his Labor Party."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009 ... ?site=news

Discussion goes here ...

[Jovial Monk]

When I was in London, Paris, Rome & Munich the Metro was a fantastic way to get around. Is it the most urgent item of public transport infrastructure? Probably not, seems the NW rail line should get priority. But if the work is well underway stopping it would be stupid. Fatty O'Barrel is just trying to gain support from those immediately inconvenienced by the metro property acquisitions etc--saw something about that on 4Corners.

[annielaurie]

... But if the work is well underway stopping it would be stupid. Fatty O'Barrel is just trying to gain support from those immediately inconvenienced by the metro property acquisitions ...

I agree with this, Monk ...

[Jovial Monk]

The NSW Labor Govt really needs a thorough thrashing so they can get rid of the numerous deadwood and rebuild. But Fatty O'Barrel will, unfortunately, likely snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Really, the State of NSW needs a federal takeover and remake but there is nothing in the constitution that allows that Rudd did pretty much wash his hands off NSW in the big infrastructure spend.

I loved how in the recent Qld election the polling was showing that the LNP couldn't win yet the Borg stopped campaigning on the Thursday before election day! That took talent!