The NSW Government has introduced legislation into state parliament that would give them the power to sell off rail land without needing special legislation for each particular line, as is the present case.

A protest rally was held on 20 October at Parliament House in Sydney. 

Watch ABC News report 

Since the event the Minister has announced he will make changes to the Legislation, but to date no changes have been released.  Many times we've been misled by media statements and so we are waiting to see what the new legislation says. We've yet to see any reason why new legislation is required at all, and why the current practice of having parliament review the Minister's decision should be terminated.

Many groups sent people, speakers or letters of support. Speakers were 

Mayor of Leichhardt Jamie Parker(MC)
Karin Kolbe  - President, TOOT (Northern Rivers)
Nick Lewocki  - Rail Tram & Bus Union
Alan Squires - Newcastle Transport for Business Development
Charmaine Crowe - Combined Pensioners & Superannuants Assoc
Gavin Gatenby - EcoTransit
Darrell Harris - Save our Rail (Newcastle)
Gail Broadbent - Transport advisor: Australian Conservation Foundation
Lee Rhiannon - Greens MP NSW Upper House
Barry O’Farrell - Leader Opposition
Ian Cohen Greens MP NSW Upper House
Andrew Stoner - Leader Nationals

Supporters in the audience included members of the rail groups, member of the Rail Tram and Bus Union, Gladys Berejiklian- Shadow Transport Minister, MPs Geoff Provest, Thomas George and Steve Cansdell, MLCs Sylvia Hale, Jenny Gardiner and Catherine Cusack.

Other groups also opposing the Legislation include NSW Farmers Association and Country Women's Association

See the legislation and its passage through the Parliament

Currently rail lines can’t be removed and the corridor can only be sold with special legislation to formally close the specified line. This new legislation will allow part to be sold with just 30 days' notice.

Places that would fetch some lovely prices:

• Casino-Murwillumbah rail corridor - especially Byron Bay and Mullumbimby where Woolies wants to build supermarket
  
• centre of Newcastle
• inner Sydney where there are old freight lines.

Contacts:

David Campbell (Labor) – Minister for Transport Phone 9228 3777 Fax 9228 3722 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Nathan Rees, Premier  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Amanda Fazio - ALP MLC with responsibility for this area Phone 9230 3593  Fax 9230 3591 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Rev Fred Nile (Christian Democrats) Phone 9230 2478 Fax 9230 2098 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it      Has not indicated how he will vote.

We understand the Shooters are not supporting the proposed Legilsation

Robert Brown (Shooters Party) Phone 9230 3059 Fax 9230 2613 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Roy Smith (Shooters Party) Phone (02) 9230 2850 Fax (02) 9230 3009 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Liberal/National Coallition - Coalition on our side until now, but lobby to ensure continued support

Don Page (Nationals) – Shadow Minister for the North Coast, Member for Ballina – Phone (02) 6686 7522 Fax 6686 7470 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Thomas George (Nationals) – Member for Lismore Phone 6621 3624 Fax 6622 1403 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Geoff Provest (Nationals) – Member for Tweed Phone (07) 5523 4816 Fax (07) 5523 4817 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Catherine Cusack (Liberal, MLC) Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Phone 9230 2915  Fax 9230 2385 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Andrew Stoner  (National) Leader of The Nationals, Shadow Minister for State Development, Phone 9230 2281 Fax 9230 2661 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Federal

You could also contact local federal Labor MPs Janelle Saffin and Justine Elliot and ask them what they are doing to urge their state colleagues to withdraw this appalling proposal.

Justine Elliot MP (Richmond) Ph 1300 720 675  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Janelle Saffin MP (Page) Ph 1300 301 735 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

In the media - some clippings:

Sydney Morning Herald 3/Oct

Sydney Morning Herald 26/Sept - This article contains the Minister's Briefing Note which makes it clear that the purpose of the legislation is to sell the land.

Sydney Morning Herald 14/Sept

Sydney Morning Herald 13/Sept 

Tweed Echo - 15/Oct - Keeping the pressure on Justine Elliot to deliver on her 2004 $150million promise to provide rail services   

Two More Inquiries - February 2008

The Federal Parliament is conducting two more inquiries that are relevant to TOOT. 

Inquiry into the investment of Commonwealth and State funds in public passenger transport infrastructure and services (due 28 Feb 2009)

This is a senate inquiry initiated by Senator Ludlam. Terms of reference etc

Inquiry into the impact of the global financial crisis on regional Australia (due 27 March 2009)

On 11 February 2009 the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, asked the Committee to inquire into and report on the impact of the global financial crisis on regional Australia. Terms of reference etc

Before the Federal election we surveyed the candidates for Richmond and Page, asking their views on rail.

Read their answers