Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, member for Riverina. He welcomed the decision by saying: 'Choosing not to proceed is the correct decision. An unaffordable project should not come at the expense of taxpayers or thriving regional communities.' They are absolutely right. The infrastructure must deliver value for taxpayers, it must be economically sustainable and it must be built on rigorous planning, not political expediency. The former government failed that test. They failed regional communities and they failed Australian taxpayers.

We also recognise that there are councils and landowners with concerns about corridor preservation and future uncertainty. Those concerns need to be addressed with proper respect and engagement. Regional Australians deserve transparency and honesty from government, not empty promises and shifting goalposts. This is exactly what this government is delivering. We are taking sensible decisions to realign the future of Inland Rail and build a safer, more efficient and more reliable freight network for the future.

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