ACT Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson recently said that the ACT Labor government must abandon its cornerstone plan to build light rail from Gungahlin to the City. Mr Hanson claims that the people of the ACT cannot be made to pay for light rail when Katy Gallagher is talking about reductions to health services.
“Katy Gallagher is warning Canberrans of long term funding shortfalls in health and education and it is inconceivable that at the same time she would demand Canberrans fund the $614 million light rail project,” Mr Hanson commented.
ACT Greens MLA says following the advice of the Canberra Liberals on light-rail would stifle business opportunities and restrict economic diversification in the ACT at a time when exactly the opposite is required.
“Now is exactly the time we should be investing in major infrastructure to diversify the economy in our city in the face of the cuts that are being imposed by the Federal Coalition Government,” said Mr Rattenbury.
Mr Hanson explained that the case has not been made for light rail and I will be putting our nurses, teachers, children and surgery patients as my number one priority and Katy Gallagher should do the same.
Mr Rattenbury explained that there is a big difference between capital investment for major city infrastructure like light-rail and recurrent funding for health and education services which the Federal Liberals have cut in this budget.