Rail Travel

Public transport key to vibrant city

Media Release | Spokesperson Christine Milne
Monday 9th August 2010, 12:14pm
in

Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Christine Milne, and Greens Minister for Alternative Transport, Nick McKim joined forces today to commit to an improved and innovative public transport system for Tasmania.

"A Hobart Light Rail public transport system that links the state's capital with the northern suburbs will free up time and increase the attractiveness of Hobart to young people who realise that car commuting is a time waster.

"Texting, using a mobile phone and laptops are all common on work commutes and are possible on public transport. Research by experts such as Richard Florida show that it is the reason busy young people see it as a preferred choice providing flexibility and greater personal freedom and less expense.

Promote small business tax cut, high speed rail – Brown advises Rudd over mining boom tax

Media Release | Spokesperson Bob Brown
Monday 7th June 2010, 12:00pm
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The Rudd government should sell better the huge dividend from the mining boom tax to the Australian public who will benefit from it, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said in Hobart today.

"Unfortunately, the large section of the Australian populace who has so much to gain from a minerals tax is not getting the message. For example, small business needs to know it will not get a 2 percent tax reduction if the big mining corporations win and the mining boom tax is dropped," Senator Brown said.

Rail Manufacturing in Australia

Estimates Transcripts | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Wednesday 26th May 2010, 12:00am
in

Senator LUDLAM-You can talk about freeways, too? I am just wondering whether you are aware that UGL Rail, which is Australia's largest provider of rolling stock, is in the process of closing the Broadmeadow facility near Newcastle, which is going to shed about 200 jobs and more indirect jobs. What action, if any, has the government taken? Can you point us to initiatives that you have taken to retain rail manufacturing in Australia, particularly in regional areas, and either reflect directly on Broadmeadow or in general?

High Speed Rail Study spiked in Senate

Media Release | Spokesperson Bob Brown
Friday 14th May 2010, 2:18pm
in

The Government and Opposition have voted down Greens Leader Bob Brown's motion advocating a feasibility study into a high speed passenger rail service linking Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.

The Government opposed the study but presented no reason. Speaking for the coalition, Senator MacDonald said the study would cost too much.

"This is a good idea derailed by sheer ignorance," Senator Brown said.

"High Speed Rail is established or being built in Japan, China France, Britain, Spain, the USA and Saudi Arabia.

"It would get passengers for Sydney to Melbourne in three - four hours."

High Speed Rail Link

Greens TV | Spokesperson Bob Brown
Thursday 22nd April 2010, 4:33pm
in

Rail in Western Australia

Estimates Transcripts | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Thursday 22nd October 2009, 1:46pm
in

Senator LUDLAM-I am not sure whether you were in the room earlier or watching us on the monitors, but I have asked a series of questions about rail in Western Australia, in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. Do you play a role in strategic planning of rail infrastructure in Australia?

Mr Marchant-The company contributes to public debates and influences rail policy. We make submissions to Infrastructure Australia and the broader frameworks of that. But, effectively, decision making with regard to the company's areas is limited to obviously those areas the company operates in.

Report hits home for car-reliant Perth

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Tuesday 23rd June 2009, 1:21pm
in

A report launched today by the Australian Conservation Foundation and an alliance of unions, local government, health and environmental groups calling for greater investment in public transport is especially relevant to Perth, Greens Senator for WA Scott Ludlam says.

Waratah Coal Inc. rail line

Question | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Thursday 14th May 2009, 2:45pm
in

*1484† Senator Ludlam: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts-
(1) Why was the proposed Waratah Coal Inc. rail line and coal port for Shoalwater Bay rejected in September 2008.
(2) What potential environmental damage was identified.
(3) Does the Minister consider that the movement of tens of thousands of troops with heavy equipment across this environmentally-sensitive area, conducting live fire exercises, infantry manoeuvres, air combat, ship-to-ship operations and anti-submarine warfare with navy vessels using sonar, will not cause land and marine environmental damage of a similar order, albeit possibly of a different type.

 

ANSWER

 

Senator Wong-The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) The proposal was determined to have unacceptable impacts on the Shoalwater and Corio Bays Area (SCBA), which is a declared Ramsar wetland, and the environment on Commonwealth land within the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area (SBMTA).

(2) Permanent destruction of the wilderness values, ecological integrity and scientific values of the immediate and surrounding area of the SCBA Ramsar wetland, and the SBMTA.

(3) No. The Commission of Inquiry Shoalwater Bay, Queensland, May 1994, recommended that the use of the site by the Department of Defence and for conservation could occur concurrently within the SBMTA. It also found that the use of the SBMTA for military training did not appear to have a cumulative adverse impact on conservation values, with military impacts generally being intermittent and localised. 

Federal funding for Road and Rail

Estimates Transcripts | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Tuesday 6th January 2009, 12:03pm
in

Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
Supplementary Budget Estimates October 2008
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

Senator LUDLAM - I am just trying to get a sense, I suppose, of the budget allocations in your agency that is for road funding as opposed to rail funding, regional or metro.

Senator LUDLAM-I am not looking for too many decimal places, but just a rough idea. You mainly do road infrastructure or is there a lot of expertise and funding towards rail? What is the rough split? Is your work across the agency 80 per cent road, 20 per cent rail, 90-10, 50-50? How does it break down in terms of the funds that you administer?

Infrastructure list includes best and worst: Which will the Government pick?

Media Release | Spokesperson Christine Milne
Friday 19th December 2008, 3:31pm
in

Infrastructure Australia's short-list released today includes proposals which would help build a sustainable Australia and others which would lock the country into a high-polluting path for decades, the Australian Greens said today.

The proposals across transport, ports and energy are on balance positive, with more than half (based on indicative capital cost) likely to have a net positive environmental impact and less than half a questionable or net negative impact.

"Minister Albanese faces a clear choice as he considers these proposals - does he want to build a sustainable Australia or does he want to lock us into our high-polluting path," Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Climate Change Spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, said.