RAIL - Back On Track Forum

Queensland: Call for a Commission of Inquiry into the New Generation Rollingstock Project

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has again called for a Commission of Inquiry into the botched New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) train project.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"It is disturbing that Queensland's transport authorities and a succession of under-performing Governments, have managed to order new trains, the New Generation Rollingstock trains, that are not compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) and the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (DSAPT). They now operating these non compliant NGR trains without the legal protection of a temporary exemption from the AHRC, although an application for temporary exemptions has been made.

"Equally perplexing is the fact that it took nearly two years for the Department of Transport and Main Roads to acknowledge that the trains are not compliant.  Disability Advocates have been pressing this for around two years now. Valuable time was wasted as the trains languished out at Wulkuraka, and Transport and Main Roads personnel remained in denial.

"RAIL Back On Track has previously made a request to the Queensland Auditor General (March 2017) to have this projected audited. This was declined.

"There is little recourse now other than a full Commission of Inquiry.  It is clear to us that the secrecy around this project is clearly designed to protect failure within the Government bureaucracy over a long period - many years.

"It is also clear that we are in a major rail meltdown with a resolution a very distant dream. There are now 25 non DDA non DSAPT compliant NGR trains in Queensland with more on the way we understand. Queensland Rail's service delivery is plagued by constant mechanical issues with the aging train fleet, which causes ongoing service cancellations and delays, let alone the timetable reductions in service already impacting severely in SEQ.  The situation is very, very grim as we approach the Commonwealth Games.

"Any reasonable observer can now understand why we requested an audit into this NGR project (albeit declined).  Our previous calls for a Commission of Inquiry into this project have been ignored.  Today we again call for a Commission of Inquiry into the NGR project.  RAIL Back On Track members will be gathering at Redbank on Saturday 17th February to acknowledge the fact that it has been two years since the first new NGR train, NGR 701 was delivered.  NGR 701 presently languishes with some other NGR trains in the front yard at Redbank Workshops.  Another sign of the deep trouble this project represents.

"We do not want a constant public blame game played out and dumb politics. We want the true facts and circumstances brought into the clear light of day so the monumental botch that this project represents is not repeated.

"This fact is clear: Non DDA non DSAPT compliant NGR trains were ordered under the previous Newman LNP Administration.

"DTMR and the former Palaszczuk Government reluctantly accepted that the trains are not DDA compliant around June 2017 (at least publicly), despite disability advocates raising concerns for years.  An application for a temporary exemption for the non DDA non DSAPT compliant NGR trains to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) was finally made late September 2017."

"The exemption application has now gone to public consultation ( closing date was 15th January 2018 ). The AHRC then has to consider the consultation and then make a determination.  We expect the Australian Human Rights Commission will determine the outcome of the exemption application soon.

"Make no mistake, a series of Governments and DTMR have failed Queensland.  Let's have a Commission of Inquiry to get to the facts and truth!

"We again call on the Queensland State Government to form a Commission Inquiry into this major failure.

"The public deserve to know the real costs and the level of bumbling incompetence that is transport policy in Queensland."

References:

1. Media releases from Inclusion Moves - a number
https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3706.msg195056#msg195056

2. Interview Geoff Trappett OAM Inclusion Moves with Steve Austin ABC Radio Brisbane concerning DDA issues with NGR trains
https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3706.msg195217#msg195217

3. Nine News Brisbane 20th October 2017


4. Acting QR CEO Neil Scales interviewed on 612 ABC about the rail crisis 2nd November 2016  NGR relevance from around 11.00 minutes


5. Call to build 12 Qld SMU260 trains to ease Brisbane rail crisis 1st Mar 2017


6. AHRC State of Queensland temporary exemption application
http://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/legal/exemptions/exemption-applications-under-disability-discrimination-act-1992-cth

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

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