Sunday, September 27, 2015

SA: Abbott departure gives hope for public transport funding

The South Australian Government's lobbying efforts for federal transport funding have switched focus onto tram and rail projects, and away from roads, following the departure of Tony Abbott from the prime ministership.

Acting Premier John Rau said the State Government would make new submissions to Infrastructure Australia to significantly expand Adelaide's tram network and complete the electrification of the Gawler railway line.

"Mr Abbott as prime minister wasn't very interested in rail," he said.

"The fact that we now appear to have a different attitude in Canberra is very welcome and that means we shift our emphasis now from road projects that we've got sitting there, over to rail projects."

Mr Rau said he had been encouraged by comments from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and recently appointed Minister for Cities and the Built Environment, Jamie Briggs.

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