Re: The Federal Budget - Rail forgotten?? by its own Industry??

[mauried@commslab.gov.au (Maurie Daly)]

In article <373a21cb@nap-ns1> "Grahame Ferguson" <grahamef@users.mcmedia.com.au> writes:
>From: "Grahame Ferguson" <grahamef@users.mcmedia.com.au>
>Subject: Re: The Federal Budget -  Rail forgotten??  by its own Industry??
>Date: Thu, 13 May 1999 10:03:47 +1000


>Rail did not rate a mention in the Financial Review, or the Herald-Sun, nor
>on the electronic media.
>Despite the Commonwealth not having constitutional powers over Railways, the
>Commonwealth can give money to who ever it likes.

Of course it can , but it doesnt .
The Commonwealth funds projects & programs for which it has a legislated 
responsibility.
The Railways in Qld,Vic,NSW and WA are the sole responsibilites 
of the variousState Govts,their owners who receive funds annually from the 
Commonwealth according to a formula determined by the Grants Commission.
The fact that the State Govts choose to spend not a cent of this money on 
their Railways is not the fault of the Commonwealth Govt.

The general argument advanced as to why the Commonwealth should fund Railways 
is because it funds roads ,and its unfair to fund one form of the transport 
sector and not the other.

Going back as far as the previous Labor Govt under Transport Minister Peter 
Morris,the feds have sought on at least three occassions to develop an 
agreement with the States to enter into a similar funding arrangement for the
National Rail Network as they do for the National Highways.
The only condition that the Feds required was the same condition that they 
required for the Road Industry,ie uniform rules & regulations across the State 
Railway systems.
Every attempt to develop an agreement with the States has failed .

The sole problem with railways in Australia is the fact that they are State 
owned ,and whilst this condition continues to exist , there will be no 
federal funding.

MD








>It certainly takes money from the Railways in the form of diesel fuel
>excise, a position that will be exacerabated when the GST(Get Stuffed
>Trains) is passed.
>The GST will only favour the Road transport lobby.

>The point is that Railways are not politically sensitive at the moment, so
>why should Peter Costello have to give a cent to the Rail  Industry.

>When John Fininin(I know not the correct spelling) of GSR, went public on
>the state of the Victorian western standard gauge, well things got done.
>Has any Rail Industry spokes-person gone public pre or post budget???
>NO, the silence continues on and on.
>Australasian Railway Association where are YOU!!??

>The Road Lobby and the RACV, NRMA etc are always on the TV, grinding their
>point away.

>GF