PM, Cities Minister dodge city deal light rail funding questions
The Prime Minister and the Minister for Cities have both failed to answer questions about whether Hobart’s much-trumpeted city deal will include funding for light rail.
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BOTH the Prime Minister and the Minister for Cities have failed to answer questions about whether Hobart’s much-trumpeted city deal will include funding for light rail.
In Question Time on Tuesday, Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie asked Scott Morrison if the Hobart City Deal would include additional funding, beyond the already-announced Bridgewater Bridge, and if it would include light rail.
Mr Morrison outlined a series of other already-announced infrastructure commitments to Tasmania before handing over to Cities Minister Alan Tudge, who said the deal would be “terrific” for Hobart but gave no further details.
Mr Tudge said the centrepiece of Hobart’s city deal was the redevelopment of Macquarie Point into a new Antarctic precinct.
“More details and funding commitments will come, maybe later this year but definitely before the next election,” Mr Tudge said.
Mr Wilkie said he had spoken to Mr Tudge after Question Time and, while the minister still wouldn’t be drawn on the final content of the deal, he did acknowledge that some measures such as the redevelopment of Macquarie Point would cost money and therefore further funding from Canberra.
“I’m pleased that the city deal timeline is still on track to be finalised hopefully this year or at least before the next election, but it must not be just a re-announcement of a bridge with no new Commonwealth funds for anything else,” Mr Wilkie said.
“It also must include light rail, which is crucial to solving greater Hobart’s traffic problems.”
The Tasmania for Tasmanians party also said rebuilding light rail was the most obvious answer to solving Hobart’s road congestion.
Party president Rob Newitt, a former railway operator, said an electrical passenger rail to the northern suburbs was needed and Macquarie Point would make the ideal rail and tram hub.
“We had a passenger rail in the past and it seems a no-brainer to reinstate carriages on the line to get vehicles off the roads,” Mr Newitt said.
helen.kempton@news.com.au
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