NSW Coalition to push for $1 billion saving on government procurement

The NSW State Opposition has refused to back the Epping-to-Parramatta rail link, instead claiming it would push for a $1 billion saving on government procurement over the four-year budget period.

The NSW Coalition said it would slice 25 per cent off spending on consultants, advertising and travel and axe the displace public servants list which would allow for such enormous saving on government procurement.

A Coalition government would also axe the planned Sydney western express line, the so-called city relief line, which it says is meaningless unless part of larger upgrades of the city's rail services.

During last year's federal election, the ALP committed to invest $2 billion in the Epping-to-Parramatta rail link, which would be funded jointly with $520 million provided by the state.

The NSW opposition treasury spokesman, Mike Baird, said yesterday that the commitment by Canberra had been an election gimmick.

'Infrastructure has become an election plaything. We will talk directly with the federal government. That's $2 billion they've committed to NSW … Our priorities … are building the links that we say need to be built, north-west and south-west,” Mr Baird said.

The proposal was quickly rejected by the federal Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, who said Canberra was committed to its rail promise.

'We are absolutely committed to building the Parramatta-to-Epping rail link. This federal Labor government doesn't renegotiate our commitments - we deliver,” Mr Albanese said.

The brewing stoush between the federal government and a future state Coalition government is just the latest snag for the troubled transport project, first proposed in 1998, with the Coalition tipped to win back power in March.

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