Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Fowler for his question and for his support for jobs in south-western Sydney. There are some who do not support them, but the member for Fowler certainly does. The 40 companies that attended the market soundings for the Moorebank intermodal project certainly support it as well. The Leader of the Opposition had this to say earlier this year:

The government has recently committed to build a government-owned and run inter-modal freight hub at Moorebank in Sydney even though this will cost more and take longer to build than the private sector alternative planned, literally, for the other side of the street.

Again, it is an example of him not going to the detail, not bothering to get proper advice. This is what the Business Council of Australia had to say about the proposal in a letter from Tony Shepherd received this week:

Jennifer Westacott and I have had the benefit of a full briefing on this project. I have had a number of follow-up discussions with the department. The Business Council supports the Commonwealth's strategy on this important piece of economic strategy. It is the most cost-effective and practical strategy and should produce a better outcome for the federal taxpayer and for New South Wales. The formation of a GBE to optimise private sector funding …

What would the Business Council know about it? They actually got the briefings and looked at it. It is supported by the Business Council. I table the letter from the Business Council.

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