Arrogance over the Newcastle rail issue could cost the Baird government seats during next month’s election, Christian Democrat MLC Reverend Fred Nile says.
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The state government began to remove rail infrastructure in December, despite a Supreme Court ruling that an Act of Parliament was needed before the heavy rail line could be cut.
Reverend Nile, chair of the Parliamentary Inquiry into Newcastle Planning Decisions, has accused the government of acting dishonestly and arrogantly over the inner city rail cut.
The inquiry’s interim report was released last year and recommended against the truncation.
Reverend Nile, who was in Maitland speaking with church groups yesterday, told the Mercury that the NSW Liberal Party’s arrogance over the issue could lead to an election hit similar to that which Campbell Newman’s Queensland government took recently.
“I think it’s a disgrace. The government is being dishonest,” he said.
“They are not digging up the rail but they are pulling down the signs, the electrical wiring and so on.
“I think it’s blackmailing the people to say ‘it’s halfway gone now so lets get rid of it’.”
Reverend Nile said the inquiry’s final report would be released in mid-February and the government would be in the firing line.
“We’ll be very strong in condemning the government for ignoring our first report,” he said.
“You can’t take the electorate for granted.
“It looks arrogant, the way they are handling this whole rail thing. They are heading down the same path [as the Newman government].”
Planning Minister Pru Goward unveiled details of the government’s proposed plans for Newcastle’s inner city rail corridor on Friday.
The government’s Design Newcastle program consulted 950 stakeholders and found that 6 per cent wanted the heavy rail line to be retained.
The consultation resulted in a proposal to establish a market precinct at the Newcastle station site and a mix of playgrounds, public parks, community hubs, residential apartments and commercial developments in and around the rail corridor.
“It is important the community has the opportunity to see there are no plans for a Gold Coast-style foreshore, but in fact the priority is open space and sensible, sensitive options to reactivate the precinct,” Ms Goward said.
A detailed plan will be tabled mid year.
Labor candidate for Maitland Jenny Aitchison said the government continued to cut Maitland’s links with Newcastle CBD.
“There is a clear choice for the people of Maitland in March,” she said.
“A Labor representative who can deliver two public hospitals and restore the rail line, or candidates who make promises they can’t deliver.”
