Media Release
05 February 2018
Greens NSW MP and Transport Spokesperson, Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC, and MP for Ballina, Tamara Smith, are calling for a Special Commission of Inquiry to look into Roads and Transport Projects.
Dr Faruqi has written to the Governor seeking a Special Commission of Inquiry to look into systemic issues plaguing Transport and Roads projects across NSW, including bungled projects, inflated benefits, cost blowouts worth tens of billions, the targeting of public servants and the billions of dollars being poured into projects against the advice of this Government’s own experts, with deliberate attempts to hide information from the public.
The Greens say a Special Commission of Inquiry would have the powers to get to the bottom of these issues, require the production of documents, and demand answers from Government Ministers.
MLC Mehreen Faruqi said:
“The people of NSW are paying the exorbitant social, economic and environmental price of this government’s bad decisions which are not made on sound evidence, rigorous analysis or with community input.
“Communities across NSW, from the North Coast to the South Coast, are up in arms about the way projects are developed and delivered and the impact on people and the environment.
“Given the culture of secrecy and the complete lack of transparency within this Government, it is clear that nothing short of a Special Commission of Inquiry will expose the debacle that is unfolding in transport in NSW - cost blow outs, destruction of the environment, the targeting of public servants and the billions of dollars being poured into projects against the advice of this governments own experts,” she concluded.
MP Tamara Smith said:
“Across my electorate and across the State the amenity of residents is being shattered by road building and critical infrastructure projects, such as the Pacific Highway upgrade.
“If the noise levels aren't acceptable, if peace and enjoyment is lost, if property price is devalued, residents have no recourse through common law.
“There is an imbalance of power between the needs of road building and the rights of residents that needs to be redressed, which I hope a Special Commission of Inquiry will achieve,” said Ms Smith.