11 May 2011: SEQ: Federal budget train gain amongst the strain and pain

[ozbob]

Media release 11 May 2011

SEQ: Federal budget train gain amongst the strain and pain

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 welcomes the confirmation of funding being brought forward for the Moreton Bay Rail Link as confirmed in the 2011-12 Federal Budget(1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"We are in difficult times in a fiscal sense.  The delivery of the Federal Labor Government's election commitment in the budget to fund the Moreton Bay Rail Link is welcome (2)."

"RAIL Back On Track particularly welcomes changes to how Infrastructure Australia (IA) functions. Allowing IA to better investigate independently the benefits of major projects gives more certainty for projects such as a Sunshine Coast Line upgrade and particularly Cross River Rail.  Having IA make public cost-benefit analyses also helps address the need for greater transparency. The introduction of new tax incentives designed to remove impediments in the tax system that discourage private investment in infrastructure projects is also very welcome."

References:

1. http://www.budget.gov.au/

2. http://www.finance.gov.au/publications/commonwealth-budget/2011-12/2011-12/content/bp2/html/bp2_expense-15.htm

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Federal Budget discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5900.0