Sydney's transport crisis: build railways, not roads

There has been intense media speculation on the fate of New South Wales infrastructure plans following the “discovery” of a supposed $20 billion dollar “black hole” in the NSW budget, announced by departing treasurer Michael Costa on September 5. The failure of ex-premier Morris Iemma’s government to force its complete electricity privatisation agenda through parliament, it is claimed, has left the state desperately short of funding options for Sydney’s woefully inadequate public transport system. On October 2, the Sydney Morning Herald sensationalised the issue, with its headline screaming, “We can’t afford to keep Sydney running: Rees”. The SMH blamed Sydney’s “population explosion” for the increased infrastructure needed to provide adequate public transport for the growing city. In a September 25 article, the SMH cynically... [read full story]