Transport Minister Chris Steel has once again refused to provide a completion date for Light Rail stage 2A, despite federal infrastructure officials telling Senate Estimates last Friday works would commence in January 2024 and be completed by January 2026.

A number of questions were also put to the Minister in Annual Reports Hearings yesterday afternoon regarding funding following revelations that three Canberra road projects funded by the federal government were axed to pay for the tram.

Canberra Liberals Leader and Shadow Minister for Major Projects Elizabeth Lee said the information out of Senate Hearings last week begs the question what else is on the chopping block?

“We already know the ACT Labor-Greens government has taken hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars from health and public housing to pay for the tram,” Ms Lee said.

“In hearings yesterday, the Minister said all ACT road projects were considered for the chopping block in order to divert funds to the tram.

“Canberrans have every right to feel betrayed by Labor and the Greens’ decision to rip $85.9 million out of these very important road upgrades.

“There are a number of inconsistencies between the information the federal government is providing in regard to the tram and what the Minister is telling Canberrans and he must be upfront.”

The Minister also failed to adequately answer questions from Shadow Transport Minister Mark Parton regarding the cost and timeframe for stage 2 of the light rail.

“It is firstly astounding that federal government officials are able and willing to confirm the timeframe for the completion of stage 2A and yet the responsible ACT Minister cannot and will not be upfront with the public,” Mr Parton said.

“It is also telling that the Minister would not correct the assertion that stage 2 in it’s entirety will cost over $3 billion and not arrive in Woden until at least 2034.

“This entire project is shrouded in secrecy and by the Minister’s own admission regardless of what the business case says, the Labor-Greens government will push ahead with the tram to Woden, even if it does not represent value for money,” Mr Parton concluded.