NSW LABOR OPPOSITION LAUNCHES PETITION TO SAVE COUNTRYLINK

Media Release | Tuesday, 15 May 2012

NSW LABOR OPPOSITION LAUNCHES PETITION TO SAVE COUNTRYLINK

Shadow Minister for Transport, Penny Sharpe MLC and Shadow Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Services, Mick Veitch will today join local residents at Bathurst Station to demand the O'Farrell Stoner Government rule out privatising CountryLink rail services.

Ms Sharpe and Mr Veitch are in Bathurst to launch a petition calling for CountryLink to remain in public hands.

"The O'Farrell Stoner Government has been considering plans that would see CountryLink separated from the rest of RailCorp to make it easier to sell off to the private sector," Ms Sharpe said.

"We are calling on the O'Farrell Stoner Government to rule out selling off CountryLink to the private sector today.

"The privatisation of country rail services in Victoria by the Kennett Liberal Government was a failure.

"The NSW Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian needs to make a commitment to the people of country NSW that this vital service will stay in public hands."

Shadow Minister for Regional and Rural Affairs, Mick Veitch said he was shocked the National Party would allow a plan to sell off country rail services to even be considered.

"CountryLink is the cornerstone of public transport services in regional areas and carries two million people every year to 365 destinations in NSW and interstate," Mr Veitch said.

"Privatising CountryLink could see fares increase and services cut for millions of country residents.

"This plan would literally cut off regional NSW from Sydney.

"The privatisation of CountryLink would be devastating for regional communities and the millions of rural residents who use the service to visit family and friends and attend medical appointments.

"The National Party should immediately rule out any support for the privatisation of CountryLink."

Copies of the petition are available here.