STATE GOVERNMENT DEFENDS TRAIN CARRIAGE POLICY AFTER VICTORIAN ANNOUNCEMENT

The Baird Government has defended its decision to build the state’s new train fleet overseas, after Victoria today announced its trains will be largely made by an Australian consortium, creating more than a thousand jobs.

“Victoria will make their decisions. I think New South Wales put taxpayers first. It’s tax payers money we’re talking about here. The difference of $500-million has to be found somewhere.”

The Hunter Workers Union fears industry employees will now leave the region and head south in search of work.

“There’s no guarantee of future contracts. We’ve got a government that’s saying it’ll be off the shelf from overseas. It’s no winder why local companies want to invest money in their facilities.”