News

Labor again fails to deliver on North East rail

Tuesday 6 March 2018

Labor Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan continues to blame everyone else for the lack of new trains on the North East line, Nationals Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy said.

“The local community was left empty handed and disappointed following the Minister’s second visit to the region in three years yesterday,” Mr McCurdy said.

“I had hoped that after the Nationals committed $633 million earlier this week to brand new long haul trains across Victoria if we are elected to government, this would have encouraged the Minister to offer something, anything to improve North East rail.

“However, her visit turned into another talkfest, another non-event with the Minister leaving our region without offering a cent to improve our trains and carriages.”

Mr McCurdy said Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan had moved the debate about trains in the North East from old and failing rolling stock to blaming the Federal government again.

“Stop blaming others, stop avoiding the issue,” Mr McCurdy said.

“Match the Nationals and purchase new trains. Building trains won’t happen overnight, they will take two years to build so stop stalling and make a commitment.”

Mr McCurdy said Labor only ever want to talk about regional Victoria and left it to the Nationals to deliver.

“Yesterday was another missed opportunity by Labor to fix our trains,” he said.

“Premier, regional Victoria is more than just Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong.”