Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon (pictured) expressed concern that the Newcastle rail truncation and the federal government’s plan to reintroduce the fuel excise would make travel more difficult and expensive for people in the Hunter.

“There is a lack of public transport in regional areas and where it is available it is often expensive,” Mr Fitzgibbon  said.

“Everywhere you go is further away [than for people living in the city] and petrol is more expensive because there is less competition in the country market.”

He agreed with calls to postpone the start work date beyond Boxing Day pending an investigation into whether there was any influence from developers in the government’s decision to cut the line.

The ICAC investigation into illegal developer donations before the 2011 election has led to three Liberal politicians  stepping down in the past week.

“There is a cloud over the whole decision-making process, Mr Fitzgibbon said. 

Mr Fitzgibbon said the rail cut made it difficult for Mr Hockey to sell aspects of the federal budget such as the reintroduction of the fuel excise.

The excise, still to pass the Senate, would mean the government’s fuel tax would rise in line with inflation, which has not been the case since 2001.

Fairfax Media reported Mr Hockey said people on low incomes would not be hit hard by the fuel excise, because “they don’t have cars or drive very far”.

But Mr Fitzgibbon said yesterday that the comments were out of touch with regional communities.

“Most of the poorest electorates in Australia are in rural and regional Australia and people here do drive cars,” he said.

“In the bush we lack public transport and most places we go – to shop, to work, to learn, to socialise and even to look for work – are a long way away.”