political protectionism
On Tuesday, the NSW Government revived plans to build the M4 East extension when it had the money to do so. It is speculated that this major piece of missing infrastructure may be shelved indefinitely in secret talks amongst Labor Party heavyweights.Actually, the M4 East extension connecting the current M4 at Strathfield/Concord to Port Botany via the City was one of the projects nominated by the NSW Government to receive $5.5 billion of federal funding from the Infrastructure Australia fund. The estimated total cost is $12 billion.
Construction of this extension would include three major tunnels built beneath sensitive state and federal Labor seats. It is said that the National Secretary ordered the Minister for Infrastructure (Anthony Albanese) to shelve plans so that voters are not alienated. Ironically, the Minister holds the federal seat affected. His wife (Carmel Tebbutt) is Deputy Premier and Education Minister, and is an affected state seat.
To avoid political suicide, they wanted to scrap this vital project.
Do you believe it? You can make your mind up.
benny | Tuesday, February 24, 2009 
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