Re: Latest news on Speedrail

["Tezza" <tezza2000@dingoblue.net.au>]

"David Bromage" <dbromage@fang.omni.com.au> wrote in message news:G0by5.5
> Tezza (tezza2000@dingoblue.net.au) wrote:
> > "David Bromage" <dbromage@fang.omni.com.au> wrote in message
news:UURx5.7
> > > There is a common misconception that the government has to "subsidise"
the
> > > project. Remember the criteria was "no net cost to government" which
means
> > > they are not opposed to putting in money, such as in the form of tax
> > > concessions or in kind contributions (such as the $600 million in kind
> > > contribution from RAC), provided they get equal or more in return.
>
> > How are they going to get a return? Like all foreign companies it won't
pay
> > any tax.
>
> Leighton Holdings is an Australian company, and the Speedrail operating
> company will also be an Australian company.

Partly or mostly foreign owned, which means bullshit accountaing, no profit,
no taxes paid.


>The operator will be Qantas.
> There will be GST on tickets,

The same that would've been collected on the Train/plane tickets or petrol
that people would've used anyway. Now that airfares have dropped (if the
newcomers don't do a Compass), Speedrail are unlikely to get the numbers
they've been bandying about.

> jobs created,

Always good, but certainly nowhere near the numbers claimed. Campbelltown's
mayor is claiming thousands of jobs just in Campbelltown - no way. Like the
bullshit numbers being claimed for Badgerys Creek, where they reckoned
there'd be multiples more employed than at Mascot.

> and significant reduction in
> the maintenance bill on the Hume Highway.

Only if they move significant amounts of freight.