Transcript of media conference with Kristie Johnston, independent MHA for Clark, and Michael Hangan, President of the Northern Suburbs Railway, Wednesday 16 February 2022 at Parliament Lawns, Hobart.
Kristie Johnston
In the world’s worst kept secret, today we have heard that Minister Ferguson is not going to pursue light rail as an option for the Hobart northern suburbs rail corridor. This is something that has been apparent to just about everyone for many, many years now. But finally Minister Ferguson has come clean and revealed what his true intentions are. We’ve known for some time that the state government haven’t been interested in investing in the northern suburbs in not only a transport solution, a public transport solution, but in city shaping, in generating more housing, and generating more jobs and economic stimulus in the northern suburbs.
And today’s announcement by the Minister that he does not intend to pursue light rail comes as a kick in the teeth to the people of the northern suburbs who have been hoping that he would stick true to his promises that he’s made previously. We know this state Liberal government had previously promised to deliver light rail within five years; Rene Hidding made that promise in 2018. We know that the state Liberal government committed in the Hobart City Deal to deliver a public transport solution within five to 10 years on the existing rail corridor.
But today we see them running away from that commitment a million miles an hour, it is incredibly disappointing. It’s disappointing on a number of fronts, not only are they leaving the people of the northern suburbs down in relation to transport, but they’re also leaving the people the northern suburbs down in relation to the economic activity and the stimulus it creates around a corridor. The state government’s own report last year showed that light rail would deliver 4600 new homes in the northern suburbs, 1200 new jobs and an enormous amount of economic activity adjacent to the rail corridor.
But the government simply does not care about those outcomes. Instead, they’re kicking the can further down the road and doing more and more studies. And now they’re backing away from a light rail option., perhaps even looking at a bus rapid transport option. Investing in buses gives us buses, it doesn’t bring the economic stimulus, the change in the land use, and the city shaping benefits that rail does. They simply would be wasting their money. It’s very disappointing.
But again, I’m not surprised at Minister Ferguson’s response. He’s a northern member who doesn’t understand the issues deeply, what’s happening in the northern suburbs, doesn’t understand the challenges facing people in the northern suburbs. And I call the other members of Clark to come out and support the rail concept, support this concept which people of northern suburbs have been so strongly in favour of for many, many years now. It’s a no brainer.
Where’s the member for Clark Elise Archer? She came out in 2010 when she was first elected and so she supported the light rail: where’s she now advocating on behalf of the people of her constituency for light rail in cabinet? Where’s Madeleine Ogilvie? Where’s the opposition? Who only just at the recent state election campaign from rail. What are they saying about it? Are they abandoning it now, because we’re so far out from a state election? Is that what we’re going to have from the people of parliament, cheap promises come election time but no real commitment. The people of the northern suburbs are sick of it. They deserve so much better. They deserve this kind of investment. We have a federal election coming up. We have all the documentation to show that the rail project is in the grasp of a federal election commitment. I call on the Minister to just follow through on his commitments. Surprise us all, be a politician of commitment who delivers their promises. But unfortunately we’re seeing today is his stepping away from all those commitments,
Tasmanian Times
There’s been a blooming of light rail on the mainland – ACT, Adelaide as well, Brisbane putting in light rail before the Olympics – so does Hobart risk becoming a second class city without something like light rail?
Kristie Johnston
We certainly do risk becoming a second class city; every other capital city and major city around Australia realise the real potential that light rail delivers not just in terms of transport options, but in terms of the city shaping benefits, the benefits around extra housing, extra jobs, creating business opportunities, so they’re heavily investing in this. They can see what a difference it makes to communities and connecting people, particularly people who are disadvantaged. But this state government simply only wants to build roads; we know that roads lead to more congestion, but in bigger roads, more congestion, more cars. And it certainly doesn’t deliver the city shaping benefits than investment in light rail passenger transport would. So risk becoming Slowbart. It’s simply not fair for the people of the northern suburbs, who should have this no brainer solution on the table. There should have been shovels in the ground long ago, but again, the state government or frittering away the opportunities that are presented to us.
Journalist – Ainslie Koch
(inaudible) construction utilising new buses and trackless trams, and that that will still stimulate the economy and create jobs. Do you not agree with that?
Kristie Johnston
So again, the state government, particularly Minister Ferguson, is cherry picking certain components of their very own reports. If you read the PWC report, which the state government released, it talked about how significant the benefit was for rail compared to bus for a slightly more expensive option. And we’re talking around the hundreds of millions of dollars that we’re talking here, you get four times of benefit with rail than you would with buses. The report itself simply says if you’re going to invest in hundreds of million dollars of bus infrastructure, you won’t get the extra houses, you won’t get the extra jobs. But for a small increase in investment, you get four times that you get 4600 new jobs, new homes, you get 1200 new jobs.
And I make the point, again, that the Hobart City Deal, both the federal government, the state government and the local councils committed to delivering a public transport solution along the existing rail corridor. So Mr Ferguson needs to be honest with the community. Is he walking away from the Hobart City Deal? Or is he just not delivering on those particular aspects of the deal that deliver great benefit for the people of the northern suburbs because he’s doesn’t care about the south the state? And the fact that there are people in northern suburbs now who need homes, or new jobs, who need access to education and services. So he needs to be honest with the community about that. For around $400 million, you could get a bus option. For slightly more investment, you get rail, but you get four times the benefit. And I ask the community and the community can understand this. And I ask Mr Ferguson to articulate what’s best bang for buck.
Journalist – David Killick
(inaudible) where to now for light rail in Hobart?
Kristie Johnston
The community are incredibly frustrated, and I expect they will be speaking very loudly about their disappointment with the statements the minister has made today. This issue is not going to go away. We’ve been talking about it now for many decades. It’ll continue to be an election issue. We’ve got a federal election coming up. And the question must be surely at the front of every federal election candidate in Tasmania: are they going to walk away from the Hobart City Deal, or are they going to deliver under the Hobart City Deal? I’d expect the voters of Tasmania to be speaking to their local candidates about that. I know the passion in the community is great, people won’t walk away from this. The heritage rail aspects, there are so many different benefits to delivering light rail. So whilst the state government might be putting their heads in the sand and continue just deliver the same old road kind of projects, the people of Hobart expect better. And I know they’ll continue to advocate around that.
Journalist – David Killick
Is there a risk that even with the $25 million that was federally allocated that the northern suburbs will get no mass rapid transit option?
Kristie Johnston
I think that risk is real, absolutely real. I don’t believe the Minister for a minute when he talks about bus rapid transport or trackless trams. I fundamentally think the Minister doesn’t do anything in the northern suburbs at all. And again, he’s just kicking the can down the road further. He’s ruled out light rail, I expect in a few months time we’ll see him coming back to tell us that bus rapid transport is not even viable, or that trackless trams aren’t. It’s a serious lack of interest and concern about the city shaping benefits that light rail or any other public transport option can bring. And that is a concern.
Tasmanian Times
There’s a big proportion of current bus users, for example, young people, elderly people, disabled, who can’t drive. From representations made in Clark, do you know what their preferences are in terms of a transport solution?
Kristie Johnston
Look, obviously, I understand that there are many people who have mobility issues and who are transport disadvantaged in the northern suburbs. And in fact, the northern suburbs right along the existing rail corridor has some of the highest densities of people who are the most transport disadvantaged in the country. Those people who for a variety of reasons can’t use a private motor vehicle and they need good public transport access. What I’m hearing from people in the community is that their experiences on the mainland for instance, demonstrates that rail provides greater flexibility in terms of their movement and mobility, is easy access, and you can build infrastructure that’s DDA compliant and helps them to be able to access services, education and employment. That is exactly what the people of the northern suburbs deserve. They deserve a public transport system which creates a city where there are jobs, houses and employment, and that they can access things easily. Michael Hangan.
Michael Hangan
So this government’s ignoring the northern suburbs community. 90 plus percent of people surveyed in the northern suburbs have said they want light rail, and this government is ignoring it. We need to make sure that we have a positive transport system in the northern suburbs and light rail, as we’ve said, is really a no brainer. It just has to happen. We just need to try and look at all the things that are in that current report will have to happen, whether it’s buses, whether it’s trackless trams or whatever, that remedial work still has to happen, irrespective of what you do on that corridor. So you know, what they’re saying in this report is that well, yep, okay, this is the work that has to be done. But let’s, let’s try and look at the whole thing and be honest about what’s happening in that corridor. And that work still needs to be done whether it’s buses, light rail, or trackless trams.
Journalist – Ainslie Koch
Queensland is moving towards more electric buses and other options. Is that something you’re discounting or are you open to other transport modes such as that?
Michael Hangan
Well, we’ve we’ve had surveys out there in the community, and they want light rail. That’s what they want, they want light rail. And you need a possible positive transport infrastructure result. And you know, it just needs to look at what’s best for the community and the community is saying light rail.
