Mr THOMAS GEORGE (Lismore) [1.24 p.m.]: I am almost at a loss for words when I come to talk about the Casino to Murwillumbah rail link. In 2007, prior to the last election, former Premier Morris Iemma and Peter Beattie, the former Premier of Queensland, established a Cross Border Transport Taskforce. They convinced the people of the Northern Rivers of this State that there was a Cross Border Transport Taskforce. When the Minister for Transport was spoken to some weeks ago by the local press in my area he confirmed that a report had been available since July but it had not as yet reached Cabinet.

Recently the Hon. Jennifer Gardiner and the Coalition, together with the support of the Greens, the Shooters Party and other members of the crossbench, sought an order for papers on the Cross Border Transport Taskforce under Standing Order No. 52. The Government had 14 days to deliver that report. Yesterday—the fourteenth day—we were advised that the report would be available that afternoon. Over the past two weeks it had been established that the report was three pages long. I would like to pay tribute to the member for Tweed for his actions over the last 12 months in his endeavours to seek the document under freedom of information provisions. It was indicated that such a report existed but it was not made available to the member for Tweed. I want to place on record the letter received by the Hon. Jennifer Gardiner yesterday afternoon in response to her request under Standing Order No. 52, and I quote:

Standing Order 52—Order for Papers—Cross Border Transport Taskforce

I wish to advise that there is as yet no final report from the Cross Border Taskforce. Following a process of public consultation and internal review, the Minister for Transport has asked that the Taskforce update its draft report to take account of recent Government initiatives, including improvements to public transport in rural and regional New South Wales.

This is the Cross Border Transport Taskforce.

The draft report is being finalised in consultation with the Director General of Queensland Transport as the joint member of the taskforce. Following this, the report will be submitted for Government consideration.

I certify to the best of my knowledge all documents held by the Ministry of Transport and covered by the terms of the resolution have been provided.

Yours sincerely,

Jim Glasson
Director General, Ministry of Transport.

That is a joke. It is an insult to the people of the Northern Rivers to have led them to believe there was a task force working on cross-border issues in relation to transport prior to 2007. We were told there was a report but it still had to go before Cabinet. We then found out that the report was three pages long. It was reported to the local press at home two weeks ago by the office of the Minister—when the Northern Star got the call—that there was a report and, indeed, a final report. The Government is now saying that they have not even finished a draft report.

When Nathan Rees took over as Premier he indicated to the State that he wanted open and frank government and yet this is going on in the Ministry of Transport. The people of country and regional New South Wales, especially in the north of the State, have been ignored. We are calling for the reinstatement of the Casino to Murwillumbah rail link. Quite frankly the Government has again deceived the people of the Northern Rivers.