NSW Labor Budget Reply

On June 21, NSW Labor Leader Luke Foley delivered Labor’s reply to the NSW budget announcement. 

In the speech, Mr Foley revealed a four-point plan on infrastructure delivery. 

First, a Labor Government will hold a public judicial inquiry about the Westconnex and Sydney Light Rail projects. 

Second, they plan not to use special purpose vehicles like the Sydney Motorway Corporation to ‘avoid legitimate scrutiny from freedom of information laws’. Third, they will promise to solidify planning approvals before signing any construction contracts. And fourth, they pledge to require health checks each year on the progress of major projects, provided by Infrastructure NSW, and then release them out to the public. 

The opposition leader also confirmed that Labor’s top transport priority is the Western Metro, a new fast rail line between Westmead, Parramatta, and the Sydney CBD. This project is additionally supported by Infrastructure NSW because it will connect two major centres of the Sydney metropolis and reduce travel time. 

Labor advised that the Western Metro should be a higher priority than both the F6 and northern beaches tunnel. 

Other initiatives outlined in the speech included a commitment to Ice rehabilitation centres and $800 million to air condition every public-school classroom