TRANSPORT MINISTER MUST FRONT NORTH EAST COMMUTERS
03-August-2011
As the North East Rail service descends further into chaos, the time has come for Federal Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese to come to the North East and explain to commuters what steps he is taking to ensure a safe and reliable service is finally returned.
The North East Rail Revitalisation Project is overdue, over budget and the train services are now slower and more dangerous than when the project began.
Sophie Mirabella MP, Federal Member for Indi has issued an invitation to Mr Albanese to visit the North East to front concerned commuters and answer questions on the state of the track.
“Mr Albanese is a Federal Minister on a Ministerial salary, and he has a duty to explain to locals what has gone wrong and what he is going to do to fix it,” said Mrs Mirabella.
“This rail project should have been cause for celebration, but instead it’s turned into a nightmare. There are mud holes along the track, reports of train driver injuries, speed restrictions have been imposed, there are still serious safety concerns and trains are running extremely late. This is nothing short of a disaster.
“North East residents have been very patient, but they have just about had enough. It’s time for Mr Albanese to stop hiding behind the ARTC and front the people.
“Mr Albanese promised full transparency in this portfolio, but so far he been doing everything in his power to hide the truth. We know the ARTC has conducted an investigation on the track and that report has not been publicly released, why not? What does the Government have to hide?
“So far, the only investigative work that has been released is that which has been done by the media.”
The joint invitation to Mr Albanese was signed by Sophie Mirabella and Bill Tilley MP, State Member for Benambra. The pair has called on Mr Albanese to nominate a date so that they can organise a public forum.