1. What is your or your party’s policy regarding the Casino-Murwillumbah rail line?

Australian Democrat policy is that the line be re-instated with a Country-Link passenger service and that it also provides freight and commuter services.

2. Do you or your party support the reopening of the line? Include details of any funding commitments and timeframes to reopen the line.

I and my party fully support the reopening of the line (as in #1) immediately, with infrastructure maintenance carried out sufficient to return passenger services. Then further investment to upgrade the infrastructure for freight services.

Funding would form part of an integrated transport plan for the area, with investment in trains reducing road costs (injuries & maintenance), pollution costs and social isolation costs.

3. Do you or your party support the running of commuter services on the Casino-Murwillumbah line? Include details of any funding commitments and timeframes to establish commuter services.

See answers to questions 1 & 2.

4. Do you or your party support a rail link between Murwillumbah and Coolangatta Airport so as to link with the Queensland rail system on completion of the southern extension of the Queensland Rail system to Coolangatta Airport. Include details of funding commitments and timeframes to construct a rail link.

Yes, we fully support the extension of the NSW rail services to connect with the Queensland rail services. Obvious really.

For funding plans see answer to question 2. As far as timeframes go, that is a bit harder for us to control but we treat the matter as essential and urgent and will continue push hard for our governments to act now.

5. What is your or your party’s policy on transferring freight to rail? How would this be achieved? Include details of any funding commitments and timeframes.

See answer to questions 2 & 4.

6. What are your or your party’s polices for managing increased congestion, safety, amenity, social and environmental issues if accessible rail services are NOT provided over the next five years? Include any estimates of the extra costs involved in managing these impacts.

We would have to find very much more funding to repair the damage caused by such a lack of foresight & abrogation of governmental responsibility.

7. Briefly describe your personal commitment to get trains on our tracks.

I am 100% committed to getting trains on our tracks for our communities, our environment and our future and have been involved in and an active supporter of the NRTF campaign to achieve this since its inception in 2003.

8. What actions would you take if elected to get trains on our tracks?

I would immediately canvas other MPs to set up an open, prompt and broad ranging enquiry to compile the evidence to form an integrated transport plan which is enacted urgently.

9. Would you be prepared to work across party lines and negotiate with State governments and others to get trains on our tracks and a link between Murwillumbah and Coolangatta Airport. Briefly describe what actions you would take.

Negotiation is one of the Australian Democrats strong suits and, as described in my answer to question 8, I would canvas the issues widely.

10. Any other comments you wish to make.

I wholeheartedly support investment in trains for reducing injury & loss of life on roads, reducing road expenses, reducing carbon emissions, improving social health and providing transport needs in the future.

I ask for your wholehearted support in the ballot box by voting 1 Australian Democrats in Page and in the Senate so this issue gets the full attention it needs.