Matt Johnston: Politicians tuning in to planes, trains and automobiles
IN two decades, nothing has quite managed to shift the pipedream of a Tullamarine Airport rail link into reality but it’s a unity ticket both sides of politics can exploit, writes Matt Johnston.
Opinion
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MORE than two decades ago, this newspaper revealed Paul Keating liked the idea of a Tullamarine airport rail link, so would pledge millions of dollars to plan it with the state government.
It was one of goodness knows how many reports, feasibility studies and inquiries on the rail link that are gathering dust on departmental shelves.
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Nothing has quite managed to shift the pipe dream into a reality.
On Thursday, the Herald Sun revealed that Malcolm Turnbull liked the idea of a Tullamarine rail link so much he was willing to put “up to” $5 billion into actually building the thing.
All major political parties at federal and state government level now seem on board.
Federal Labor leader Bill Shorten, on track to be the next PM unless the Coalition stages a remarkable recovery, has backed the plan strongly.
Premier Daniel Andrews told Turnbull he would work with him to get the project done, and state Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said Turnbull’s pledge was “outstanding”.
Population pressures in Victoria are now so strong that without intervention, roads in the north and west will choke on cars.
The Tullamarine Freeway is being upgraded, but airport chiefs have pointed out this will last only so long, given how many passengers are flooding to the world’s most liveable city.
The size of the “up to” (never a good phrase for a politician to use) $5 billion cheque being spruiked by Turnbull has turned heads at state level. Some ministers say it reeks of desperation, brought on by a low federal infrastructure spend in Victoria and a realisation that a redistribution of federal seats heralds electoral oblivion.
If that is the case, don’t rub their noses in it. Just milk the poor buggers for all they’re worth.
To be fair to Turnbull, he has been talking up this project of “national importance” for some time. And in a sign they have learnt their lesson from pointless previous state-federal stoushes (Monash Freeway upgrade, anyone?), the Coalition didn’t try to strongarm Labor into a preferred route. The Coalition does prefer the option that goes beneath Maribyrnong, to service old defence land sold off for housing and to get a new line through northwest Melbourne.
The state prefers a route to the west that links with Sunshine, because it allows a fast rail line to Geelong and would use some existing rail corridors to save cash. It would make use of the Melbourne Metro tunnel, enabling trains to run through the city but not around the City Loop, which is already congested.
The idea of construction starting “as early as” 2020 is fantasy, owing to the complex planning and environmental work required and the need for airline authorities and regulators to ensure that everything is safe to build an underground (or above-ground) station at the airport.
Whenever construction does begin, it is now odds-on that Melbourne will, within a decade, at last have an airport rail link.
Another factor influencing planning will be whether to use existing trains or develop purpose-built carriages. What really matters is ensuring frequent services, few stops between the CBD and the airport, and affordable tickets.
Turnbull may be desperate to win votes in Victoria, and willing to shell out cash for infrastructure, but the Andrews Government played relatively nice on Thursday.
Maybe that’s because it sure beats talking about its medically supervised injecting room, which this week morphed from an ice-free zone to a whatever zone.
After years of ignoring health experts’ advice about a proposed safe injecting room, the government now says it has no choice but to follow expert advice.
Mental Health Minister Martin Foley locked himself into an anti-ice stance last year, which was not surprising given a government taskforce was trying to stamp out the scary methamphetamine.
This week’s about-turn made it easy for the state Opposition to ramp up its attacks.
Liberal MP Bernie Finn was even let off the leash, jovially telling Sky News the death penalty for drug lords should be introduced because once a couple had been knocked off, the others would “get the message”.
Infrastructure and job-producing plans are the kinds of things both governments want to be talking about, but from which they have strayed.
The beauty of an airport rail line for political parties is that so many people think it’s a good idea, even if they will never catch that train in their lifetime. It’s a unity ticket both sides of politics can exploit.
Voters will hope more mutually beneficial projects are offered up in a year that will see a state election in November, and more than likely a federal election.
Matt Johnston is state politics editor
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