Pressure mounts over basin rail

Victorian Nationals leader Peter Walsh has continued to push the State Government for an explanation into how it plans to finish a Murray Basin Rail Project.

Mr Walsh has accused Premier Daniel Andrews of simply ‘refusing to say how Labor will fix its mess’.

“The Premier was asked in State Parliament to explain why the project has been left languishing,” he said.

“Farmers and the freight industry desperately want to see the project, which promised to upgrade and standardise the freight rail network in Victoria’s northwest and save 20,000 trucks trips to port a year, completed in full.

“In June Minister Jacinta Allan finally admitted the project was indefinitely on hold after cost blowouts, missed deadlines and appalling contract management on her watch.”

Mr Walsh said Victoria northwest farmers ‘rightly’ expected Mr Andrews to keep his promise to complete the basin rail project – in full.

“Arrogant grandstanding from the Premier won’t fix the mess Labor has made of this once-in-a-generation project,” he said. “Instead of making it easier for farmers in northwest Victoria to access port and international markets, Labor’s failed delivery has left farmers and the freight industry worse off.

“Under Labor the basin rail project has been dogged by cost blowouts, project mismanagement and failed to meet key milestones which has left the project stalled indefinitely.

“Mr Andrews and Minister Allan need to quit with the excuses and get on with funding, fixing and finishing this critical infrastructure project.”