Swan Refuses Changes to Budget to restore Funding for M2-F3 Design Works
Federal Member for Berowra, the Hon Philip Ruddock MP, today asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer, the Hon Wayne Swan MP, in Question Time: “Is the government considering changes to the two-week-old budget to restore funding to the M2-F3 design works in this financial year?”
In his answer the Treasurer made it clear that the much needed funding for the M2 –F3 link would not be restored. He said “there is absolutely no need for any changes to our budget”.
This is notwithstanding the very considerable public anger at the decision to put even preliminary design work outside the present forward estimates of the Labor Government in the 2011 Budget.
Mr Ruddock said this issue is urgent, pressing and life threatening. He drew attention to the closure of the F3 freeway link for hours this week after a semi-trailer carrying flammable liquids crashed.
Mr Ruddock asked how much more disastrous this would have been if it had occurred on Pennant Hills Road. In this case there does not even exist an alternative Pacific Highway to ameliorate the harm of such an emergency.