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Wishy-washy Nats finally answer on Scoresby: Ingram

By Craig Ingram - 23rd February 2005 - Back to News

Three months after laying down the challenge for the National Party to take a stance on Scoresby tolls, Gippsland East MP, Craig Ingram, today welcomed comments from Nats spokesman, Peter Ryan, that he is opposed to banning tolls on the Mitcham-Frankston tollway.

"In November last year, I called on ‘two-bob each way Pete’ to answer clearly ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on this issue," Mr Ingram said.

"It’s taken over three months, but the Nats have finally broken ranks from the Liberal Party and federal National Party leader, John Anderson, and publicly stated that they are opposed to the buying out the Scoresby contract at the cost of billions of dollars.

"Whether the decision has been taken because of a genuine concern for their constituency or if it is a bid to woo country voters because of the party’s ailing status remains to be seen."

Mr Ingram said a toll-free Mitcham – Frankston, along with Federal funding, further promotes the gross inequity that exists in road funding.

"If it is funded by taxpayers, those living in East Gippsland as well as all other rural Australians, most of whom will never use it, will be paying as much, if not more than those who use the new road everyday," he said.

"If metropolitan ratepayers paid local government rates at the same level as country ratepayers, there would be sufficient income to pay for Scoresby and most of the cost of the metropolitan public transport system as well.

"This would relieve the State and Commonwealth Governments of about $2 billion annually that could be spent on the crumbling rural road infrastructure like the Princes Highway east of Orbost; the Bonang Highway; the Barry Way; the Omeo Highway, and the Great Alpine Road.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com