NSW negotiations with rail unions over New Intercity Fleet break down

The NSW Treasurer snapped at a reporter and called her question “ridiculous” after she queried the choice of another minister.

The NSW Treasurer has blown up at a reporter during a press conference announcing rail union negotiations had broken down.

Matt Kean was asked why the Transport Minister wasn’t there to make the announcement and responded: “What a ridiculous question”.

Pressed to explain the absence, Mr Kean said the minister, David Elliott, was busy preparing for question time.

The government and rail unions have been locked in six-week negotiations over safety concerns relating to the New Intercity Fleet.

NSW Treasurer Matt Keen and Employee Relations Minister Damien Tudehope announced talks had broken down. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

But on Thursday the government announced those talks had broken down over a union demand to delay the trains’ rollout over concerns for staff and passenger safety.

“We’re drawing a line in the sand against the outrageous demands of the unions to deprive the NSW travelling public of the newest, safest and best trains that we have in the state,” Mr Kean said.

Employee Relations Minister Damien Tudehope said the $2 billion train fleet was “sitting at Mariyung ready to be rolled out”.

“It has been sitting there because of concerns raised by the union and reconfiguration of a $2 billion train which we say is a state-of-the art train,” he said, adding he would not recommend to the government they make any changes to the trains.

Rail unions refused to operate the trains after they were meant to be on track last October over safety concerns.

Negotiations over safety concerns related to the New Intercity Fleet broke down. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

The unions said they it would be unsafe to use CCTV rather than security personnel to check on platforms, and complained that emergency buttons on trains would be routed to call centres.

The Transport Minister was in the meeting with the unions on Thursday, but not present to announce the talks had broken down.

Later, in parliament’s question time, he said he wouldn’t provide “running commentary” on the negotiations, but said they would continue.

“I can certainly say that there has been good faith with those negotiations,” Mr Elliott said.

“The cost of the NSW taxpayer has to be first and foremost when it comes to making sure that we get industrial harmony in this state and that's what’s gonna occur.”

A letter from Transport for NSW deputy secretary Matt Fuller to one of the union bosses, which was obtained by Labor, showed the department and the unions were in agreement to modify the entire fleet of trains.

NSW Transport Minister David Elliott said the negotiations would continue in good faith. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

The letter, addressed to Rail, Tram and Bus Union secretary Alex Claassens and dated on Thursday, said: “It is proposed that an interim model is adopted for a limited number of sets to be in revenue service by December 2022, whilst modification of design is underway for the entire fleet”.

The changes would include modifying driver screens and door controls “to more closely align with Waratah” trains.

Mr Claassens said negotiations could “potentially” go back to square one after Mr Tudehope, whom he called “some random minister”, came in to “blow it all out of the water”.

Labor’s transport spokeswoman, Jo Haylen, said the controversy was “another attempt by the government to cause chaos right across our train network for their own political purposes”.

“That is grossly irresponsible behaviour from Matt Kean and Damien Tudehope,” she said.

“It’s playing politics with our transport network and it is inflaming an industrial dispute which the government is meant to be solving through negotiations.

“Passengers will end up paying for the government’s political games.”