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.

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