Minister Barr: Delivering on our light rail election commitments
- Written by ACT Government
Released 04/02/2016
In the 2012 election campaign, ACT Labor’s commitment was clear.
ACT Labor committed to “plan, finance and develop the first stage of a Light Rail Network” with “construction estimated to commence in 2016”.
The statement issued on 21 September 2012 by then Chief Minister Katy Gallagher said “Stage 1 is anticipated to be completed by 2018, with construction estimated to commence in 2016”. We’re delivering on our promise.
This week we announced the consortium that will build the light rail from Gungahlin to Civic. They will start work this year exactly as promised four years ago. The contract
Termination clauses, which are standard in many contracts including PPPs, in the light rail contract will be entirely consistent with similar Australian infrastructure projects.
The point of contracts is that they are an agreement in good faith to do something and provide certainty.
Capital Metro has negotiated and will continue to negotiate in good faith and in line with the Government’s 2012 election commitment. Sovereign risk
This government has a clear plan for what it will do. The Liberals only say what they won’t do. Their irresponsible threat to tear up the light rail contract is economic lunacy, as their Federal Liberal colleagues have said.
If they are able to carry out this threat, Canberra’s reputation will be damaged forever. It will cost our city jobs and investment. Doing business in Canberra will get more expensive.
This threat also puts every future Australian infrastructure project at risk. That’s why the CEOs of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, the Australian Industry Group and the Business Council of Australia have taken the extraordinary step of writing to the leader of the Canberra Liberals to call on him to change his position.
- Statement ends -
Section: Andrew Barr, MLA | Media Releases
