LABOR WILL MATCH SPEND
OPPOSITION Treasurer Chris Bowen says Labor supports fast rail between Geelong and Melbourne and would match the Federal Government’s $2 billion funding commitment.
Visiting Deakin University at Geelong yesterday where he met young students, Mr Bowen said the ALP supported fast rail but it needed to be planned properly and not as a thought bubble.
“Obviously fast rail from Geelong to Melbourne would be a good thing and we support the principle,” he said.
“But it’s got to be done properly and not as a thought bubble.
“You build fast rail by federal and state working together — you don’t ring the Premier and say we’re announcing this tomorrow and by the way I’ve already told the Geelong Advertiser.
“That is not co-operation to get fast rail built.
“The State Government is already working on fast rail to Geelong and we would cooperate with that proper process and planning.”
Mr Bowen said a key question remained for the Prime Minister and Treasurer over the federal Budget funding commitment.
“How much money is going to be in the Budget and over what time period?” he said. “I want to see the detail.
“Of course, we are committed to working with the State Government to get fast rail to Geelong and that takes money.
“Yes, we’ll match the commitment, but I want to see is it a real commitment.”
The Opposition Treasurer also said the arrival of fast rail would cost much more than $2 billion.