Congestion charges “a welcome step” say Federal Labor
13th November, 2008
Federal Labor has today given unqualified backing to the New South Wales Government’s economically damaging decision this week to introduce congestion charges in Sydney.The Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate, Stephen Conroy, told Parliament: “The introduction of time-of-day tolling and related congestion charges by the New South Wales Government is a welcome step to address urban congestion in one of Australia’s major cities.”
The Shadow Transport Minister and Leader of The Nationals, Warren Truss, said Federal Labor’s support for this unpopular new tax that hits families, battlers and business suggests that motorists in other cities also have plenty to fear.
“Outside of a couple of dark green environmentalists and militant car-haters, I am yet to hear of anyone who thinks Nathan Rees’ plan to slap new taxes on financially stressed Sydneysiders is a good idea,” Mr Truss said.
“A congestion charge of the sort created by Mr Rees for the Sydney Harbour Bridge will soon spread to other motorways in Sydney. The Government has even admitted that its rash decision was made without proper modelling being available.
“A true congestion charge would try to change traveller’s behaviour and fund alternatives. But this outrageous tax grab was made at the same time as Labor axed a series of major road and rail projects.
“Someone travelling from the north west of Sydney to the airport will now be slugged more than $22 in tolls for a return trip. Meanwhile, long promised rail lines to the north west have been scrapped. How do people get to work – on crowded buses or ghost trains?
“Federal Labor’s support for this tax grab demolishes its credibility as the party for ‘working families’ and any claims it has to long-term transport planning. Party tribalism has trumped economic good sense,” Mr Truss said.
In the rest of his answer to a question from Nationals Senator Fiona Nash, Senator Conroy also admitted that the upgrade of the Pacific Highway in the north of NSW would be delayed because of $245 million in State budget cuts.
“One of the worst black spots in the state, at Banora Point near the Queensland border, will now not be upgraded for many years. This is what happens when Labor is aligned at two government levels,” Mr Truss said.
