Bus taskforce report: 204 page press release and no funding for recommendations
The NSW Opposition is calling out yet another example of transport policy by press release by the Minns Government.
Following the release of the four-month late Bus Taskforce report, the Government has not committed any new funding to meet the recommendations of its own Taskforce.
This follows the announcement of first report of the Taskforce which also did not include any additional funding for bus services.
The report specifically requests the NSW Government to fund over $5 billion worth of recurrent and capital spending in the short term, yet the in the Minister’s press release there is no mention of additional funding.
The only number the Government is proud of in this report is the 204 pages length. Considering the contracts taxpayers are paying for the Chair of the Taskforce are worth in excess of $700,000 for the report, this means taxpayers are spending $3,500 per page of what is essentially another Government press release.
Shadow Minister for Transport Natalie Ward commented “To improve Transport services you actually need to invest, not pay your mate to do a review and then ignore it.”
“This Taskforce has been running Since May last year, so far the Chair is getting paid a ransom, while commuters are still waiting at the bus stop.”
“It is pretty embarrassing for a Government to commission a signature taskforce with obscene salaries, be delivered the report and then not allocate money to meet the recommendations.”
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