States apply the brakes to Joyce’s inland rail vision

Queensland, Victoria and NSW have put the brakes on Barnaby Joyce’s prized inland rail project.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Barnaby Joyce poses for photos in the driver's seat of the train as he farewells Elvis fans boarding the Elvis express train, who were attending the Parkes Elvis Festival, in Parkes, NSW, on Monday 15 January 2017.

Queensland, Victoria and NSW have put the brakes on Barnaby Joyce’s prized inland rail project amid battles over funding and uncertainty over the final route the 1700km line will take.

The Australian has learned the Deputy Prime Minister has been unable to finalise vital agreements with state governments to allow the $9.3 billion project to proceed, despite expectations the agreements would be wrapped up by Christmas.

Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey accused the federal government of mismanaging the route selection and consultation process in the state’s southeast. “We are not satisfied with the work on the inland rail project to date,” Mr Bailey said. “The Turnbull government needs to engage in genuine consultation with the community and farmers before any route is finalised.”

Mr Bailey said Canberra wanted the state government to compulsorily acquire land from farmers but “we won’t be doing that unless and until the Turnbull government listens to concerns of affected communities.”

Victorian Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said she reached an in-principle agreement on the rail project with former federal infrastructure minister Darren Chester in December last year.

Under the deal, the federal government would provide $1.57bn for regional passenger rail projects. But Ms Allan said she was told last week the funding was contingent on Victoria agreeing to manage land acquisitions without knowing the final route the line would take. “Not only has Victoria lost Darren Chester as infrastructure minister but, amid the chaos in Canberra, we also lost the ability to finalise the agreement that was reached last year,” she said.

It’s understood NSW is seeking a federal funding contribution for the Metro West rail link from Parramatta to Sydney’s CBD in return for signing the inland rail deal.

The Metro West project, which could cost up to $15bn, is NSW’s most pressing transport project but is yet to receive any federal money.

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the inland rail line was a transformational project but “we will be looking to get the best deal for NSW”.

“We are hoping to work collaboratively with Canberra on our infrastructure program,” he said.

Victorian representatives are scheduled to meet with federal counterparts today to see if that state’s agreement can be salvaged.

Mr Joyce replaced Mr Chester as Infrastructure Minister in the Coalition’s December reshuffle.

Mr Joyce’s spokeswoman said Queensland, Victoria and NSW had expressed support for inland rail, and the federal government was working to secure intergovernmental agreements with all three states.

She said the government was “committed to genuine engagement with the community”, and the project was subject to environmental approvals “which act as a safeguard to community, environmental and economic concerns”.

The proposed rail route through Queensland’s Darling Downs has earned the ire of Queensland farmers, particularly those on the Condamine floodplain.

Queensland Nationals senator Barry O’Sullivan said there would always be “NIMBY” critics of such projects, but farmers on the floodplain had been let down in the consultation process.

“It was presented as a fait accompli,” Senator O’Sullivan said. “They’ve done a pretty poor show, Inland Rail, of bringing people with them.”