Between a line and a hard place

ARTC’s backup plan if negotiations fail

AUSTRALIAN Rail Track Corporation conceded it would use “mechanisms” under state legislation to acquire land for the Inland Rail project in the event that negotiations between landholders and the organisation fell through.

ARTC CEO John Fullerton made the concession under questioning in Senate Estimates hearings earlier this month.

“If a farmer thinks they’re hard done by, who do they go to in order to appeal their argument, if they can’t come to an agreement with ARTC?” Senator John Williams asked during the October 22 hearing.

“Well, we don’t think it will get to that stage,” Mr Fullerton said.

“That’s not the question, whether you think it or not. You can bet there’ll be some blues; there always are,” Senator Williams replied.

Mr Fullerton agreed there “could be some blues”, adding that if ARTC “can’t negotiate with the landowner, they may choose not to deal with us on a voluntary basis. But there are mechanisms under New South Wales legislation that deal with these problems when they occur. But we do think we’ll be able to negotiate satisfactory arrangements with every landowner.”

“If you can’t and it comes to a blue, then you’ve got to use a big fist. Is that right?” Senator Williams queried.

“They’ll have mechanisms under the New South Wales legislation,” Mr Fullerton answered.

The Federal Government is yet to secure a key intergovernmental agreement with the Queensland Government, which would allow the ARTC to begin acquiring land for the project. Earlier this month, following a visit to Toowoomba from Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey said no agreement would be signed “on a route that has negative impacts on flood flows and our farmers”.