Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
Question No.: IA 06
Division/Agency: Infrastructure Australia
Hansard Page: 24 (20/10/09)

Senator Ludlam asked:
Senator LUDLAM-Right. So there is a rail corridor there. The communities in that part of the country actually were created along that rail line. The New South Wales government is now looking at going further than taking the service off the line and taking the line out all together. I realise that your role is mainly about provision of infrastructure, but what role would you play if a government was considering taking out a key piece of infrastructure?

Mr Deegan-There are a range of issues to do with rail in New South Wales and Western Australia in particular-some to do with grain and others to do with passenger transport operations. The extent to which we get involved depends on the long-term national productivity issues associated with those rail lines. We have had discussions with a number of community groups involved in the Casino Murwillumbah process, some of whom sought funding for the rail to be restored from the Commonwealth. You get those tensions between state and Commonwealth governments in those matters. They are productive discussions at the moment. I am not aware of proposals to remove the line but, again, I will take that on notice and see what I can find out.

Answer:
Infrastructure Australia is not aware of proposals to remove the Casino to Murwillumbah rail line.