The Hon Tjorn Sibma MLC has welcomed the addition of METRONET to his portfolio duties and said it is essential that the McGowan Government was kept accountable for its failure to deliver the major project on budget, on time and within scope.
With the cost now ballooning to over $7.5 billion, METRONET is the McGowan Government’s single most expensive project and is among the most expensive infrastructure projects underway, nationally. It is critical that it delivers value for money.
“The cost of building METRONET has more than doubled the original $2.95 billion figure announced by the Government when it contested the 2017 election, and future escalations in construction costs are inevitable in this overheated market,” said Mr Sibma.
“The public welcomes investment in public transport but is rightly concerned about Minister Saffioti’s mismanagement of the project to date. METRONET has been marred by cost blow-outs, delays and excessive secrecy.
“Vastly more transparency is needed not only about the management and delivery of METRONET, but also the financial liability of the project once it is finished.
“The yet to be disclosed annual operating fare subsidy could be well above $2 billion each year and this will impact the ability of future governments to deliver other public services in more difficult economic times,” said Mr Sibma.
Mr Sibma keeps his other portfolio duties for Environment; Defence Industry; Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs; and remains Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in the Legislative Council.
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