Vic Liberal Party - Paying the toll for Brumby's neglect

Victorians will pay dearly for new Melbourne transport systems because John Brumby has neglected vital infrastructure since his Government was elected eight years ago, the Leader of the Liberal Nationals Coalition Ted Baillieu said today.

Commenting after the release of Sir Rod Eddington's Investing in Transport report this morning, Mr Baillieu said the report had destroyed John Brumby's credibility by outlining a range of critical failings in Melbourne's transport infrastructure.

"We now know the price of John Brumby's transport neglect  more tolls, more taxes and more traffic," Mr Baillieu said.

"After a decade of decline and tinkering around the edges of our decaying transport system, John Brumby's only plan to solve the transport mayhem he has created is for Melburnians to endure another ten years of chaos. "Sir Rod has stated in his report today that the Government's rail freight target is hopelessly unachievable, our rail network will 'hit the wall' within a decade and that our entire transport network is highly vulnerable to the very constraints on West Gate Bridge that are happening today because of high winds. "This Government has failed its basic responsibility to provide proper transport in this city, and John Brumby will reward the Minister who has overseen the myki ticketing fiasco by putting her in charge of delivering these projects.

"Based on the Brumby Government's mismanagement of major projects such as the myki ticketing fiasco, there is every likelihood that these road and rail upgrades will be subject to major cost blowouts.

"The Government's utter failure to plan over the last eight years means Melbourne's inner-city residents will be subject to many more years of congestion and chaos before something is done to fix the problems.

"Even if Sir Rod's recommendations are adopted, there will be innumerable transport black holes for our outer-suburban areas where major population growth is forecast in the near future.

"We urgently need much better transport in Melbourne, but I have grave doubts that John Brumby and his inept Transport Minister are capable of delivering the goods," Mr Baillieu said.

http://www.vic.liberal.org.au/default.cfm?action=news_detail&ID=6893