Council backs Green calls for Federal transport funding

By Ashlee Betteridge Leichhardt Council has opposed

Premier Morris Iemma and
Treasurer Michael Costa are seeking
Federal support to deliver on State
Government promises to invest in
the inner west’s transport and road
infrastructure, according to reports
last month.
But the Greens are calling for any
Federal funding received to go to-
wards public transport rather than
new roads like the controversial M4
East extension.
Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said
the inner west was at risk of be-
ing caught in a “pincer movement”
with NSW and Federal Labor fund-
ing unwarranted road infrastructure
instead of public transport.
While Premier Iemma has
pledged a metro system for Sydney,
a discussion paper on the M4 East
extension, which was due to be de-
livered in December last year, has
still not been made public.
There is speculation that Mr
Iemma’s $12 billion metro rail plan,
announced in March, may not leave
enough in the state’s coffers for the
M4 East extension, anticipated to
cost $8 billion.
the M4 East in the past, and passed
a motion last month echoing Ms
Rhiannon’s calls for Roads Minister
Eric Roozendaal to immediately re-
lease the discussion paper on the
proposal.
Council also called on Mr
Roozendaal to approach Federal
Minister for Infrastructure and
Transport, Anthony Albanese, for
Auslink funding for public trans-
port.
A spokeswoman for the Premier’s
office said the M4 East was still a
government priority and the discus-
sion paper on the project would be
released “soon”.
The spokeswoman said the State
is currently compiling its list of infra-
structure priorities for the Federal
Government ’s Infrastructure
Australia review.
The M4 East extension is expect-
ed to be on the list.
Leichhardt Mayor Carolyn Allen
said she wanted to see the full de-
tails of the proposal.
“Most of the motions on the M4
East in the past have been against it,
but a lot of people in the communi-
There is speculation that Mr
Iemma’s $12 billion metro rail plan,
announced in March, may not leave
enough in the state’s coffers for the
M4 East extension.
ty are not against it and don’t think
council should be either,” Cr Allen
said.
“I would welcome Federal fund-
ing for the project. For any project,”
she said.
State MP for Balmain Verity
Firth said once the full proposal is
announced she would consider her
opinion regarding federal funding.
“I know that past proposals have
raised community concern regard-
ing pollution, and I would hope that
State MP for Balmain Verity
Firth said Federal, State and local
governments need to work together
on transport infrastructure projects
for the area.
any possible future plan incorporat-
ed these views,” Ms Firth said.
“My views about the future of
transport in our area are that we
need to focus on public transport.
I also support getting trucks and
heavy vehicles off local roads,” she
said.
“In general, however, I believe
that the Federal, State and local gov-
ernments all need to work together
when it comes to infrastructure
projects for our cities,” she said.

Rank and file revolt against Iemma’s electricity privatisation plan

Delegates from the Balmain State
Electoral Council (SEC) will raise
opposition to Premier Morris Iemma’s
plan to privatise state electricity at
the NSW ALP State Conference on
May 3 and 4.
The Balmain SEC comprises del-
egates from every ALP branch in the
state seat of Balmain.
At its annual general meeting on April
3, members of the SEC unanimously
voted to oppose the electricity sale,
calling on all delegates to the NSW
conference to abide by ALP party
policy and oppose privatisation of pub-
lic assets. Delegates from the Balmain
SEC, Steve Turner from Annandale
Branch and Linda Kelly Rozelle-Lily-
field Branch, will be voting against the
sale at the conference.
Balmain MP Verity Firth said that she
absolutely supports the right of party
members or units to express their
views at the conference.
“I understand that there has been
considered debate and discussion in
the local branches and SEC around
this issue. It is the position of the SEC
not to support the proposal, and they
have made this known to me,” Ms
Firth said.
“We can only have a strong grass-
roots-based party if members feel free
to express their opinion on any subject
that they choose,” she said.
- Ashlee Betteridge

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