The Premier’s mismanagement and waste on her CBD light rail project has been exposed yet again with news that another contractor is suing her Government over false and misleading conduct.
Queensland-based company VAC Group is suing the Berejiklian-Barilaro Government in the Federal Court for breach of contract. It is just the latest court action being launched against the State Government as a result of its incompetent management of the CBD light rail. Last month light rail contractor Acciona launched a $1.2 billion court action saying the government misled it on how many utilities would have to be moved during construction.
Australian-owned VAC Group, which maps and manages underground utilities for infrastructure projects, is laying a similar charge as Acciona at the Government’s feet – misleading and deceptive conduct.
The Premier and her Infrastructure Minister Andrew Constance continue to boast that the project is running on time and on budget, when the truth is very obviously that the project is going to be well overdue. This waste and mismanagement on the Premier’s pet project is what I have repeatedly asserted for some years.
There is not further independent evidence needed than the NSW Auditor General’s report on the CBD light rail said that the Government “did not effectively plan and procure the project to ensure it maximised value for money for New South Wales.”
The latest court documents exposes as nonsense the repeated boasts by the Premier and her Infrastructure Minister Andrew Constance that they are experts at delivering infrastructure.
The CBD light rail project has been mismanaged from the outset. The Labor Opposition is right when it says; “Infrastructure NSW said don’t build it and the NSW Auditor General has made it clear that the project was being atrociously managed. This has to be the contender for one of the most disastrous infrastructure projects in NSW’s history. It is killing businesses along the corridor and making us a laughing stock internationally.”
“When projects are not being properly managed, legal disputes and expensive court cases are always likely. “Small businesses are suffering while the delays mount up – and the Premier has to accept the blame for this shambles.”
