Privatised Track Money Is Fools Gold

The NSW Labor Council today warned that a proposal to give the Howard Government control over the state’s freight rail tracks would lead to job losses.

Labor Council secretary John Robertson said that while reports that the Federal Government would pay NSW $840 million to bring the tracks under control of the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), the community would pay a far greater price in the long term.

"Suggestions that this money would be a windfall for an area like Tamworth is really fools gold," Mr Robertson said.

"The cash injection would not be sufficient to meet current upgrade costs, would lead to substantial job losses and would see the closure of grain sidings, increasing transport costs for our farmers."

Mr Robertson said more than 130 jobs in the region would hang in the balance with job losses in Narrabri, Moree, Tamworth and Werris .Binneway would be decimated if rail jobs were cut.

"The Australian Rail Track Corporation's agenda is to take over the rail tracks, break up the network and force workers to bid against each other to keep their jobs," Mr Robertson said.

"Where this has been tried overseas the results have been disastrous - with massive job losses and decreased safety leading to rail fatalities.

"Any candidate with the interests of the Tamworth region at heart would surely oppose this dangerous plan."

For more details call Mark Morey on 0425 231812 or

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