East West Link: Tony Abbott concedes defeat on Melbourne road

    AAP
    March 20, 2015
    The Australian

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has admitted defeat in his bid to have the East West Link road tunnel built.   :)

MELBOURNE’s East West Link road tunnel won’t be built, but something has to replace it, Prime Minister Tony Abbott says.

Mr Abbott has finally conceded defeat in his attempts to get the Victorian government to build the $6.8 billion stage one of the East West Link.

Premier Daniel Andrews promised to dump the controversial project if he won last year’s election.   :)

Mr Abbott has repeatedly urged him to build the road anyway, but finally acknowledged that race was run.

“If East West Link is off the table as far as the Victorian government is concerned. Let’s see what else might be possible that will address these major bottlenecks and which will be worthy recipients of major commonwealth government funding,” Mr Abbott told ABC radio on Friday.

The prime minister identified the West Gate Bridge in Melbourne’s west and the Hoddle St intersection in Melbourne’s east as the city’s two major traffic bottlenecks.

“What I’m intending to do is keep talking to the premier about what we can do. Not East West Link because he doesn’t want to build East West Link,” he said.

“But what I’m going to do is keep talking to him about other ways of addressing these major traffic choke points.” The federal government had given Victoria $1.5 billion for the road’s eastern stage one, and $1.5 billion for stage two, due to be built in Melbourne’s west.

Mr Andrews has argued for that money to go towards removing suburban level crossings, but Mr Abbott has said commonwealth money must go to projects of national economic significance. AAP

Mr Abbott, Premier Andrews took this issue to an election and won.  The good people of Victoria want the money spent, on the removal of 50 dangerous level crossings.      :(

Yes, but Mr Abbott wants to be our Roads and Infrastructure Prime Minister, so something needs to be done.

Can’t they fix a few potholes or something?

It’s so unfair. These leftards would do anything to make Mr Abbott look bad.

Maybe Mr Abbott can fix KRudd’s school halls.

SHAME LABOR SHAME

The funds allocated for the cancelled project are Commonwealth funds and Abbott is right - they should be spent on things that are of national significance.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Mar 20^th, 2015 at 6:18pm:

The funds allocated for the cancelled project are Commonwealth funds and Abbott is right - they should be spent on things that are of national significance.

I don't give a stuff about some road in Victoria.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Mar 20^th, 2015 at 6:18pm:

The funds allocated for the cancelled project are Commonwealth funds and Abbott is right - they should be spent on things that are of national significance.

The funds were originally allocated to a different project before it was redirected in Abbott's jihad against public transport projects. It would be sensible to restore that funding for the project it was originally tied to. Of course, we know the Abbott government aren't sensible in their approach to policy. They're more indecisive than Imelda Marcos trying to decide which shoes to wear.

"National significance" is just code for what the Liberals want to fund. There's no actual requirement anywhere that must be met.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Mar 20^th, 2015 at 6:18pm:

The funds allocated for the cancelled project are Commonwealth funds and Abbott is right - they should be spent on things that are of national significance.

I agree. The dog on the tuckerbox could do with a bit of a touch up. Is that in Victoria?

The leftards did neglect it so.

We have all these Ministers both State and Federal traveling all over the world looking at public transport and road infrastructure for what....Most reports have found that having a good public transport system reduces congestion on the roads yet pubic transport is being neglected in the debate....More cars means more car parks which are never adequate and to expensive....Toll roads will become the norm and far more expensive than public transport for commuters....We need a mature debate about infrastructure that includes public transport instead of an ideological opposition that ignores the evidence!!!

::) ::) ::)

wrote on Mar 20^th, 2015 at 3:51pm:

Mr Abbott, Premier Andrews took this issue to an election and won.  The good people of Victoria want the money spent, on the removal of 50 dangerous level crossings.      :(

and abbott took the removal of the carbon tax to an election and you opposed its removal.  Cant you find a consistent position on anything?

philperth2010 wrote on Mar 21^st, 2015 at 12:10pm:

We have all these Ministers both State and Federal traveling all over the world looking at public transport and road infrastructure for what....Most reports have found that having a good public transport system reduces congestion on the roads yet pubic transport is being neglected in the debate....More cars means more car parks which are never adequate and to expensive....Toll roads will become the norm and far more expensive than public transport for commuters....We need a mature debate about infrastructure that includes public transport instead of an ideological opposition that ignores the evidence!!! ::) ::) ::)

The length of journey times by car or public transport tend to become equal. If cars are quicker, more people would use them. This can increase congestion to the point where cars are no longer quicker. This has been observed to happen in cities all over the world.

It's why we need to invest in all modes of transport. Not road alone, not public transport alone, but both.

longweekend58 wrote on Mar 21^st, 2015 at 12:20pm:

wrote on Mar 20th, 2015 at 3:51pm: Mr Abbott, Premier Andrews took this issue to an election and won.  The good people of Victoria want the money spent, on the removal of 50 dangerous level crossings.      :( and abbott took the removal of the carbon tax to an election and you opposed its removal.  Cant you find a consistent position on anything?

Still waiting for my 550 bucks..................

Does anyone take this mob seriously?

Longy, cods and Armpit excepted!  ;D ;D ;D

Try 'Concedes' in your header. Don't you own a spell check? 8-)

red baron wrote on Mar 21^st, 2015 at 6:15pm:

Try 'Concedes' in your header. Don't you own a spell check? 8-)

Great post, Mr Barron.  That'll learn him!

Armchair_Politician wrote on Mar 20^th, 2015 at 6:18pm:

The funds allocated for the cancelled project are Commonwealth funds and Abbott is right - they should be spent on things that are of national significance.

At what point did a proposed road, beginning in Melbourne's inner east
- and terminating in Melbourne's inner west
- become a "thing of national significance" ?




Please EXPLAIN ?

longweekend58 wrote on Mar 21^st, 2015 at 12:20pm:

wrote on Mar 20th, 2015 at 3:51pm: Mr Abbott, Premier Andrews took this issue to an election and won.  The good people of Victoria want the money spent, on the removal of 50 dangerous level crossings.      :( and abbott took the removal of the carbon tax to an election and you opposed its removal.  Cant you find a consistent position on anything?

Tell that to Abbott!  ;D