Premier Chris Minns ready to deal with ‘broken promise’ if Metro West scrapped

The Premier says planning is underway on how finance completing the $12bn-over-budget Parramatta to Sydney Metro. But he’s also prepared for the grilling if he scraps it.

Chris Minns says he’ll wear the consequences of a “broken promise” if he scraps the Metro West, drawing attention to the “gigantic” cost blowout of the project.

The Premier on Monday walked-back from pre-election guarantees to build the Metro, telling Ben Fordham on 2GB he needed to look at how the project would be paid for, given it is already $12 billion over budget.

“If I‘m the last person left worrying about how much these projects cost the taxpayers that’s a good thing … because that’s my job,” he said.

“The cost escalation on this is gigantic. You said that we all knew this was going to cost more … that‘s the minimum … I’m being told by Infrastructure NSW to expect more than $25bn.

“So I‘m simply making the point I need to look at this project … I need to (explain) when we announce the next stage of Metro West … how it will be paid for.”

Testing is already underway on Metro City trains. Picture: Supplied by NSW Government

Testing on the North West Metro back in 2019. Picture: supplied

The Premier told Fordham he would accept the grilling which would inevitably come his way if he were to scrap the project.

“If I cancel that project, I will come on this program and obviously I’ll have to deal with a broken promise which I acknowledge (as well as) questioning from you,” he said.

The NSW Government is currently reviewing the under-construction Metro network, with a decision set to be made later this year on whether various tranches need to be delayed.