Liberals vow to halt the tram to Woden

Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee. Photo: Holly Treadaway

THE Canberra Liberals have vowed to stop the tram to Woden, if they are elected in 2024.

Despite the ACT Labor-Greens refusing to be upfront with Canberrans, Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee today (December 5) said stage two to Woden is anticipated to cost more than $3 billion.

“This Labor-Greens government has ripped millions out of hospitals, schools, public housing and policing to help pay for the tram,” said Lee.

“As a result, we have the longest emergency department wait times in the country, teachers at breaking point with schools being closed down due to violence, a housing crisis, and the lowest number of police per capita of any state and territory.

“Canberrans deserve world class health and education facilities, more support for teachers, nurses and police along with important road upgrades and good, basic local services all across Canberra.”

Lee said despite the spin from Chief Minister Andrew Barr, it has become apparent the Labor-Greens government cannot afford to do it all and it is hurting many Canberrans.

“My vision for Canberra includes re-investing in our health and education facilities; more support for teachers, nurses and frontline workers; more affordable housing, road upgrades and better city service across Canberra and a future with bold, fresh infrastructure projects that prioritise the economic and social benefits for Canberra,” said Lee.

“It is apparent none of the things our city needs is possible while we continue on the path of building a tram to Woden that will cost over $3 billion and not be delivered until the middle of next decade.

“We have a chance to reimagine the future of our city, a future where Canberrans are not denied opportunities due to a multibillion-dollar project the Labor-Greens government are wedded to, no matter how the economics stack up.”

Lee said the Canberra Liberals will put forward a comprehensive public transport policy in the lead up to the next election.

“Since the tram was initiated by the Labor-Greens government, new public transport technology has come forward in leaps and bounds including electric buses that offer faster, cheaper, cleaner alternatives,” she said.

“What the Canberra Liberals put forward in this space will be driven by transport outcomes that ensure fast, reliable and environmentally friendly services that will benefit all Canberrans.”

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December 5, 2022

8 Responses to Liberals vow to halt the tram to Woden

Doug says: 5 December 2022 at 10:19 am

Noooooo – They will never get my vote then. I am patiently waiting for the tram here in Tuggeranong by 2064. I don’t care how many trillions of dollars – Why should only the northside get projects funded.

Leon Arundell says: 5 December 2022 at 10:27 am

The Canberra Liberals understand that Stage 2 would be a massive waste of public money, that would be better spent on more worthwhile projects. The Government’s submission to Infrastructure Australia said that bus rapid transit would generate $1.98 worth of benefits for each dollar that it would cost. Its Business Case for Stage 2A says that Stage 2 as a whole would produce only sixty cents worth of benefits for each dollar that it would cost.

Barbara Moore says: 5 December 2022 at 11:31 am

Finally, some sense. Elizabeth has said it all on how ill-advised and unaffordable the LR Stage 2B to Woden actually is. What’s happened to our money taken from health, education and public housing has been brought to light by Khalid Ahmed. Voters should inform themselves. Opportunities have changed with electric buses.

Hamba says: 5 December 2022 at 11:36 am

Sanity!

Bjorn says: 5 December 2022 at 4:19 pm

I recall the last two elections were based on Liberals doing exactly the same. The rail appears it will go ahead regardless of how much anyone might wish it doesn’t.
In my opinion what is wrong, and merely highlighted by the rail, is the Hare-Clark proportional voting system we are lumped with in the ACT.

The 2020 election saw Labor get 37.8% of the vote and in-turn 40% of the seats (101,693 votes = 10 seats). Liberal got 33.8% of the vote and 36% of the seats (90,955 votes = 9 seats) and the Greens had 13.5% of the votes and got 24% of the seats (36,307 votes = 6 seats).
The numbers don’t lie. The disproportion of seats won to votes given is markedly high for the Greens.

Take note that the remaining 14.9% of the votes didn’t go to any of the parties above, (and was actually more in total than the Greens altogether) – and did not lead to a single seat. You might say that the Greens have Canberra stitched up politically for the foreseeable future and especially for as long as Labor embraces them no matter how crazy the ideas that they have. Best brace yourself for more ‘fixed rail’ type of madness in the years to come.

hoekthai says: 5 December 2022 at 6:33 pm

I’ve voted against Labour and the greaans for 15 years but it’s made no difference, and now the greens are pushing to give 16yr olds the vote (because most of them have no idea and vote green).

To the first comment, middle of the next decade is 2035 (not middle of the next century), not 2064?

The feasibility study done in 2010 before the Tram joke kicked off found that spending $1Bn to put in a tram system saved 1 minute on the bus journey from Gungahlin to the city? Yet they went ahead anyway! Electric buses would have been just as good for the environment but would have saved $1Bn which could have been spent on unimportant things like health, education and affordable housing projects.

Now they are destroying the southside of the city and creating a traffic nightmare for the ridiculous Woden arm for the next 2 years (which will blow out to 4 and 50% higher cost than budgeted, same as the last one).

Neil, of Queanbeyan says: 5 December 2022 at 9:31 pm

My recollection, which aint what it used to be, is that the tram barely got a mention at the last ACT election. The two before that certainly, but not the most recent one. Good on Elizabeth Lee and the Canberra Liberals for doing the right thing. Unfortunately, the wise people of Canberra will show once again, at the next election, that they would rather spend all their hard-earned on a (very expensive) funny little tram and lots more disruption than on essential services. I would love to think otherwise, but I had my hopes dashed too many times.

Bjorn says: 6 December 2022 at 12:16 pm

Neal pointed out that the “wise people of Canberra” will continue to vote for the tram – while I believe the LaborGreens will hold on to power again because of the voting system – one can also see the Labor and Greens votes combined (detailed above) equated to 51.3% of the total votes counted in 2020 – hardly a ringing endorsement of fixed rail. That leaves a lot of wise people who did not support the tram.

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