#ausvotes19 ALP Policies

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1126508981315194880

It will never happen is my opinion.  Far better to focus on regional rapid rail and fixing up what we have. The LNP have this right.

Every election this comes up, lots of froth and bubble and then quietly gets put back in the drawer again.  The spending promises made for health etc. means that there will be no money for this once the political reality of a hostile senate settles post #ausvotes.

I am past it ... 

[Stillwater]

How it should have been reported:

A Labor Government led by Bill Shorten would spend $1 billion to create a linear weed patch along the eastern seaboard, between Melbourne and Brisbane. Communities along its length will be invited to use the corridor for growing fruit and vegetables ahead of its eventual use as a bullet train corridor linking major cities.

Meanwhile, wildlife experts have protested the move, saying the fenced corridor would block the migration of native animals and may lead to the evolution of new sub-species either side of the land. The Labor Party has rejected this, saying that the weed patch would become a haven for all manner of vermin and would allow for north-south movement of several species.

"Under our make work scheme, cane toads heading south will be captured and turned into luxury leathergoods," a spokesperson said. "This project will create real jobs and we are investing in Australia by creating a land bank that the Coalition will sell off in future to generate revenue for all Australians."

[achiruel]

I think corridor preservation is a smart idea, whether it is eventually used for fast passenger rail or perhaps to finally upgrade/re-align our 19th century lines that mostly carry freight to something approaching a 20th century standard.

Average 90 km/h from Brisbane to Sydney for freight is a good aim IMO, makes it more competitive with line-haul truck routes. I think average speed currently is somewhere around 70 km/h (happy to be corrected if wrong).

[ozbob]

The real corridor problem is getting fast rail into and out of the capital cities.  There are no corridors reserved.  It will cost a lot of money to tunnel even more to buy up surface properties.  We have a corridor that will be necessary for regional rapid rail to the Sunshine Coast, the North West Transport Corridor, the RACQ is already lobbying to have that for road.  This is just more high speed rail politics.  Happens every election. 

[ozbob]

Alan Davies sums it up!   

https://twitter.com/MelbUrbanist/status/1126625881319862272

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/JN_Rachele/status/1126612584516317184

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1127964782546391040