The cover-up of a ‘financial mirage’ that has inflated the NSW budget and may put rail safety at risk
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The NSW government has attempted to cover up how it artificially inflated the state’s budgets by tens of billions of dollars after it shifted the rail network’s costs onto a corporation that still hasn’t been able to properly operate six years after it was launched.
A trove of highly confidential documents and testimony of whistleblowers reveals NSW Treasury pressured accounting giant KPMG to delete or amend aspects of a report commissioned by Transport for NSW that found the plan could end up costing the state’s coffers more than it saved.
“I am writing to instruct you in your role as secretary for Transport for NSW to establish a ‘clearance zone’ around all state-managed highways, by ensuring trees within 40 metres either side cannot obstruct vital road access,” Constance wrote.
He pointed to two examples where fallen trees led to delays after the fires, including in January 2020 following blazes on the state’s south coast, where Constance is a local MP. He wrote that “many evacuees [were] waiting for over 10 hours to evacuate due to fallen trees and spot fires causing delays”.
“Many were required to sleep in their cars, tired and hungry, many with small children – waiting for the road to reopen.”
NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance ordered millions of trees along highways be cleared after bushfires
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FebFebruary 2021 at 9:51am
Andrew Constance said he didn t think it was acceptable that his directive had been refused.
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The NSW Roads Minister ordered his top bureaucrat to clear millions of trees along every highway in NSW even though the agency said it had no authority to do so, it has emerged.
Key points:
Andrew Constance said he knew the department needed an overhaul after his request was denied
Transport for NSW secretary Rodd Staples said the department didn t have the power to comply with his directive
Governor of New South Yells endures noisy Harbour partygoers
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Itâs only the stateâs highest-ranked public post and it comes with a $500,000 pay packet and a heritage-listed pile with billion-dollar views. But there are pitfalls to being the Governor of NSW.
There are noise problems around the Bennelong Point landmark and NSW Governorâs residence at Government House. And if sources in the orbit of former judge and NSW Governor
Margaret Beazley are to be believed, quite a lot of noise. Party boats blare music as they cruise past the Botanic Gardens, Opera House and Farm Cove and create a ruckus.