James O’Doherty: Speculation on Metro West is harming Chris Minns

Premier Chris Minns needs to clarify whether major infrastructure projects — including the Metro West — will face the axe. And he needs to do it soon, writes James O’Doherty.

By refusing to rule out scrapping a much-needed metro line linking Parramatta and the CBD, Premier Chris Minns is digging himself into a hole that he desperately needs to get out of.

In speculating that the project could be scrapped, Minns risks digging deeper and deeper into trouble.

Ditching Metro West entirely would be a political disaster: not only is it a broken promise, but it will all but prove true the Coalition’s central line of attack before the election — that, in government, Labor would cancel projects and build nothing.

Asked by Ben Fordham on 2GB in February if he could guarantee that Metro West would be built, Minns said “absolutely”.

He noted that billions had already been baked into the budget.

“It’s really important to note that we are committed to, and will build, Metro West, Metro Southwest, those crucial and important connections to the city,” he said on March 1.

Now he is running away from that commitment as fast as he can.

Premier Chris Minns is digging himself a deep hole over the Metro West. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard.

The first sign Metro West could be scrapped came a week ago in an interview with 2SM’s John Laws.

Minns said the project had been subjected to “extreme cost creep” and “big calls” would need to be made.

The government says the project will be subject to an independent review, due in October. That means that its future may not even be clear by the time September’s budget is handed down.

According to Minns, Metro West is already almost $10 billion over budget. It is almost certainly set to blow out more than the current estimate of $25 billion, he says.

An artist’s impression of the Parramatta eastern entry for the Sydney Metro West station. Picture: Supplied

Costs for Sydney Metro City and the Southwest Metro upgrade (converting heavy rail between Sydenham and Bankstown to a Metro line) have also ballooned.

The government estimates the current project to cost at least $20.5 billion — about 70 per cent more than first expected.

These blowouts are not Minns’ fault but they have become his problem.

He needs to rein in profligate spending which has left the budget in a bad shape, while still ensuring vital transport links are delivered.

But deciding to scrap Metro West completely could cost billions too. About $9 billion worth of contracts have already been signed, Minns says.

Considerable work has already been done, like construction around Five Dock.

It would be damning for the government if 18 months of “upheaval,” as one resident called it, all comes to nothing.

One option is for Metro West to be delayed even further, but doing so would hardly inspire confidence.

A North West Rail Line was first proposed by Carl Scully in 1998 but was subject to delay after delay.

It was not until 2019 that the Northwest Metro as we know it began carrying passengers.

Minns is trying to warn voters that his government’s first budget will have some tough choices. But he needs to clarify sooner rather than later whether major infrastructure projects will face the axe.

Some broken promises are forgivable.

What voters will not forgive is a government that puts the state into a standstill.