Ken Davidson does it again, explaining that $5,5B Transurban rip off for Western Distributor elevated road is the kind of dirt and noise pollution ugliness that’s being demolished elsewhere in the world. It’s totally in conflict with pre-election plans. To get containers to/from Port, it’s $58Million to reinstate clean, fast rail link to depots and keep trucks outside Western Ring Road. Big tollway is all about more cars/tolls into CBD, regardless of congestion and extending tolls on City Link for 15 more years. Build cost of CityLink was $1200M, profit last year was $580M and they paid a whole $3M in tax. Of course, if Western Distributor goes ahead it means that a Labor government will also be signing up to protection racket, compensation if Transurban perceive any competition from public transport, with similar protection for privatised Port of Melbourne. Government of the people, by and for the Corporations. How can “our” Transurban be allowed to get away with tax lurks as bad as Transnationals?
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