[Lift Redfern] Fwd: [Lift Redfern Organisers] Transcript of Lift Redfern Partition Debate

[Lift Redfern]

Dear All,****

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Below please find the text of yesterday’s debate in Parliament regarding
Lift Redfern.****

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There was no announcement by the Minister as close as we got was “We
appreciate the challenges that must be addressed at Redfern and I
acknowledge that people are experiencing difficulty accessing it. However,
the Government is reviewing that situation and I look forward to making
further comments about accessibility at our railway stations.”****

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The Lift Redfern Organisers will need to meet and discuss how we progress
the campaign when people have had a chance to think about possible
responses.****

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PS Central ran a story from Lift Redfern in the current issue - it is on
the Lift Redfern website http://digitaledition.centralmag.com.au/#folio=9

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Geoff****

Geoffrey Turnbull****

Spokesperson****

Lift Redfern

 ****

*REDFERN RAILWAY STATION LIFT ACCESS*****

*Discussion on Petition Signed by 10,000 or More Persons*****


*Ms CLOVER MOORE *(Sydney) [4.30 p.m.]: The residents of Darlington,
Redfern, Waterloo, Chippendale and Alexandria have signed a petition of
10,000 signatures calling on the Government to take overdue action in
relation to a lift to allow people access to Redfern station. Redfern
station is a major hub of the CityRail network. Every metropolitan railway
line other than the airport line passes through Redfern station, making it
one of the busiest stations on the network and the second-most important
for changing trains. Responses to my 2010 question on notice reveal that
the station is the seventh busiest in the CityRail network, with almost
42,000 trips to and from the station each weekday.

The station services the University of Sydney, the National Centre of
Indigenous Excellence, the Australian Technology Park, the Carriageworks,
the Redfern Community Centre and several Redfern-based community services
including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services. It also serves as
an area of major projected residential and business population growth
through urban renewal projects. Yet, despite the station's significance,
there are no lifts to its platform, making access difficult, if not
impossible, for people with disabilities, for older people, for parents of
young children, for pregnant women and for people who are less mobile due
to illness or injury. People with luggage or carrying large items also find
it a challenge.

In the twenty-first century in Sydney, Australia's global city, all major
stations should be accessible, and this needs to be urgently addressed.
Public transport is essential to reducing traffic congestion, air pollution
and greenhouse gas emissions. People will not use public transport if it is
not convenient. If they are unable to do basic things like change platform,
instead they will revert to private motor vehicles. And, for people with a
mobility problem who do not have cars and rely on trains for transport, it
is unfair. I have heard stories of people in wheelchairs having to travel
past their station to another, just so that they can access a line that
takes them back to their station on the right platform.

With so many train lines using Redfern, the station should be a priority
for an accessibility upgrade. If it were fully accessible, it would provide
relief to other busy stations. Various Government Ministers have responded
to my questions in Parliament, acknowledging that plans are being developed
for the upgrade of Redfern station, but they have failed to provide a time
line or a start date. A key focus of the 2006 Redfern Waterloo Built
Environment Plan was an upgrade for the station, but plans, timetables and
funds were never delivered. The community has been promised an upgrade for
more than 20 years, under both Coalition and Labor governments. The
community does not want this debate to turn into a blame game between the
major parties. What the community wants is action. Responses to my calls to
the Minister this year indicate that Redfern station is being considered as
part of a review for future upgrades. I understand that funds have been
allocated to upgrade 35 stations to make them accessible as part of the
Transport Access Program. The need for equitable access to Redfern station
is urgent. It should be included in the first round of upgrades under the
Transport Access Program. I am really pleased the Minister is in the House
to speak on this issue today.

The community has launched Lift Redfern, a campaign to get lifts installed
at Redfern station as a priority. The campaign is supported by a wide range
of resident, business, arts, political and Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander organisations, community groups, community services and local
elected representatives. The petition before the House forms part of this
campaign, with teams of volunteers collecting signatures at Redfern station
and nearby access points and at other stations on the CityRail network.
Lift Redfern suggests that the Government prioritise platforms 11 and 12,
on the Eastern Suburbs line, while it commences plans for a full station
upgrade. These platforms were built in the 1970s; they are completely
underground and separate to other platforms. They have lift possibilities
and would be easily upgraded separately to the rest of the station. The
City of Sydney has endorsed the Lift Redfern campaign; and tonight,
together with the Lift Redfern campaign, I call on the Government to
immediately upgrade the Redfern station with lifts, starting with platforms
11 and 12, so that everyone can equitably use this busy and important
inner-city station. I want to finish by paying tribute to all those who
have organised this petition. I hope that its aims will come to fruition.

*Ms GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN *(Willoughby—Minister for Transport) [4.34 p.m.]: I
want to acknowledge the contribution made by the member for Sydney. I do
not disagree with anything the member has said. I was at Redfern station
this morning as I was catching a train to meet a commitment, and I was
reminded of the easy access challenges that exist at that station. I want
to acknowledge, as the member for Sydney did, each of the 10,000 people who
put their names to the petition. That is why we have petitions—so that the
message reaches this Parliament on a matter that the community feels
strongly about. I want to thank you for the contributions that you have all
made to bringing the debate to the Parliament today.

There is no doubt that when we assumed government the challenge for us in
relation to what was originally called the easy access program was huge.
Unfortunately, of the 307 stations on the network only 131 are accessible.
When we came to government in March last year about two-thirds of all our
stations did not have easy access. As Minister for Transport, I am acutely
aware of the challenge that exists, and that is why one of the first
actions I took when I became Minister for Transport was to look at what
funding was available for that program and what other programs were
available to upgrade our stations. We looked at all the different pots of
money that existed, pulled them all together and released the Transport
Access Program.

As shadow Minister for Transport I was very critical of the pace of the
then Government on easy access, because on average only two stations a year
were being upgraded. If we kept to that pace, it would have taken us at
least 90 years to make all the stations accessible. Just to demonstrate to
the community how strongly I personally feel about this issue, when I was
first elected to Parliament about nine years ago I felt very strongly—I
still do—that one of my local stations did not have easy access. I took the
issue to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. I thought, "Why
should one part of the community be excluded from using the station?"
Unfortunately, my case was dismissed. But I wanted to use that example to
demonstrate that it is a matter that I feel very strongly about. That is
why, when we came to government, in this year's budget we gave an extra $40
million boost to the program that provides accessibility to our stations.

I was very pleased to announce earlier in the year, as was outlined by the
member for Sydney, that 35 stations will be getting upgrades. We are able
to upgrade more stations with the money we have available and the boost we
have provided; the previous Government's policy to upgrade each station for
easy access was what we call gold plating.
<37>
Every station it upgraded was provided with the gamut of easy access
facilities—that is, a lift, a ramp, stairs, escalators and so on. I would
prefer that more stations be provided with a ramp, a lift or an escalator
rather than nothing. We must increase accessibility as quickly as possible
at a large number of stations rather than at just two or three a year. That
is why the Government has announced that 35 stations will be upgraded this
year. Unfortunately, Redfern station was not one of the stations included
on that list because it has specific issues, which I will address.

Initial research indicates some complex issues at Redfern station, but that
is not an excuse to do nothing. As the member for Sydney said, Redfern is
in reality a city circle station although it is not classified as such. The
number of people who use it means that its upgrade is much more complex
than that required at an average suburban station. Obviously it requires
more extensive work, which will be more costly. Museum station, which is a
city circle station, needs lifts and we face huge challenges at Wynyard
station and Town Hall station. The Government is ready to address those
challenges. I reiterate that this Government is committed to increasing the
number of stations with easy access facilities, especially those that have
high usage. The Government feels strongly about this issue and that is why
it has committed to act.

Opposition members will undoubtedly say how terrible the Government is for
not doing anything. However, in 2007 the then member for Heffron, Kristina
Keneally, announced that Redfern station would be upgraded. She went on to
be the Premier of New South Wales, and the member for Marrickville, who is
about to make a contribution to this debate, was the Deputy Premier. They
had a great deal of time in which to address this issue, but unfortunately
they did nothing. It is therefore a bit rich of them to organise photo
opportunities now. The shadow Minister for Transport was the Parliamentary
Secretary for Transport when members opposite were in government. I did not
want to politicise this issue, but unfortunately it has been politicised by
people who had a great deal of time to do something but who did nothing.
The Coalition's record in government demonstrates that it takes easy access
to stations seriously. This Government has already delivered 35 station
upgrades. We appreciate the challenges that must be addressed at Redfern
and I acknowledge that people are experiencing difficulty accessing it.
However, the Government is reviewing that situation and I look forward to
making further comments about accessibility at our railway stations.

*Ms CARMEL TEBBUTT *(Marrickville) [4.42 p.m.]: I support this petition
organised by the residents of Darlington, Redfern, Waterloo, Chippendale
and Alexandria calling for lifts to be installed at Redfern station to
improve access. I thank all the people who worked so hard to collect the
signatures, many of whom are in the gallery today. I particularly
acknowledge the work of Lift Redfern, which has brought together resident,
community, Aboriginal and business groups and politicians. It has actively
campaigned to ensure that improvements are made to Redfern station. Geoff
Turnbull, Linda Scott, Robyn Fortescue and others have worked very hard on
this campaign. Geoff and Linda, who are in the gallery, have played a major
part.

Redfern station is at the junction of three electorates—Heffron,
Marrickville and Sydney. This petition was tabled by Kristina Keneally, the
former member for Heffron and former Premier. I pay tribute to her advocacy
on behalf of her electorate. She was passionate about the people of Heffron
and improving services and infrastructure in her electorate. She
wholeheartedly supported this petition and the campaign to upgrade Redfern
station by installing lifts. Ron Hoenig, who is the Labor candidate for
Heffron and who is also in the gallery, shares that passion. I know that he
will be a great member for Heffron after he is elected on Saturday.
Campaigners collected more than 10,000 signatures on this petition in a
little more than one month. That is a demonstration of the significant
community support for this issue. The campaign for the upgrade of the
station was launched in November last year at a community barbeque.

While many individuals have been involved in the campaign—and I have named
some of them—its genesis was the desire to carry forward the late Trevor
Davies' vision for Redfern. As many members know, Trevor was a long-time
inner-city Labor activist who was tireless in his advocacy for the
communities of the Redfern-Waterloo area. His work in the local community
preceded the formation of Lift Redfern and was about much more than simply
upgrading the station. Nonetheless, Trevor saw the upgrade of the station
as critical because it is the gateway to the area and an important part of
any broader improvements. It is sad that Trevor is no longer with us and
cannot witness this debate. Of course, this issue is not only about Redfern
and surrounding communities; it is also about Sydney. Redfern station with
its 12 platforms is a key station on the railway network because almost
every line runs through it. I am pleased that the Minister is in the
Chamber this afternoon and I welcome her assurance that she is examining
this issue. However, I must point out that it is she who has politicised
the issue, and that is a shame.

*ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Gareth Ward):* Order! I acknowledge the presence in the
gallery of the longest-serving Mayor of Botany Bay, Ron Hoenig.

*Mr CHARLES CASUSCELLI *(Strathfield) [4.46 p.m.]: I congratulate the
petitioners and volunteers who worked so hard on this petition containing
more than 10,000 signatures that calls for the installation of lifts at
Redfern station. I also congratulate the Government on allowing the
petition to be tabled so that it can be debated. We all want the same
thing; we all want every railway station in this State to have easy access.
I have just returned from South Korea and I was very impressed by the
facilities provided at subway and railway stations in that country.
Governments must consider the resources they have at their disposal and
determine priorities accordingly. This was never an urgent issue for the
former Labor Government—it was not an issue for its transport Ministers or
for the local member, Kristina Keneally. It was not an issue when she was
the Minister for Redfern Waterloo nor when she was Premier. It was never on
the radar and the Labor Government did nothing.

This Government is now being asked to do something in a little over 18
months that had not been done during the 16 years that members opposite
were in government. I am not suggesting that the Government is not capable
of responding to the challenge. However, we must take into account equity
and fairness across the network. We have limited resources, and priorities
must be established to achieve maximum benefit for the people of New South
Wales. My only lament is that the Labor Government spent $500 million on a
failed metro project, another $100 million was wasted on the failed Tcard
project and $176 million was spent on an unnecessary bridge close to where
I live. That wasted money amounts to more than the $700 million that this
Government has allocated to improve access at our railway stations.

If the former Government had not flushed that money down the toilet it
could have been spent at Redfern station and Flemington station. Many
people travel to Flemington on the weekend to buy produce at the market and
I often see people struggling up and down the station stairs with their
purchases. The money could also have been spent on the station at Croydon,
which has an ageing population. The same could be said about stations
across the network. I am delighted that the Government has allocated a
significant sum to address this issue. The Minister is working on a fair
and equitable program that will maximise the effect for train travellers,
and I commend her for that. If anyone should offer an apology it is the
former member for Heffron—she should apologise to the petitioners for not
having done something sooner.
<38>
*Mr JAMIE PARKER *(Balmain) [4.49 p.m.], by leave: I congratulate and thank
those residents and members of local communities who campaign not only on
this issue but also on disability and access issues in general. I am proud
to see in the public gallery members of the community of Sydney, and the
inner west in particular, who have been working on this issue. I thank the
residents of Redfern, activists, businesspeople and community members who
have supported this petition. It is important that this petition is before
the House. Accessibility is an issue at train stations and, in my
electorate, ferry wharves. It has been talked about for a long time. I am
pleased to see that the Minister for Transport is in the Chamber to speak
to the House and the community about the issue.

The issue was raised emphatically by residents in my electorate. I
acknowledge Irene Doutney from the City of Sydney and Mehreen Faruqi, the
fantastic Greens candidate contesting the seat of Heffron. She has been
working tirelessly on this matter. Ms Faruqi will take up the fight against
inaction, whether with Labor or the Coalition, to make sure the job gets
done in our community. I put to the House that the community needs a
timetable. The community understands and accepts that there are limited
resources, there is a range of challenges that need to be met on the
network, and there are limited funds. I respect the fact that the Minister
has come to the House to address the issue. Some Ministers do not come to
the House when petitions are discussed; I acknowledge that the Minister for
Transport does.

It is important for the petitioners and the broader community to understand
the Government's time frame. The Minister has said that she will look into
the matter in the future, but it would be appreciated if the Government
could set out a time frame so that there is context. I do not intend to
politicise the issue by bashing the former Government but it made
commitments that it did not deliver on. It is understandable that a
community that has experienced disappointment under a former Premier is
concerned that the present Government may squib on the promise as well. The
community looks to the Government to deliver.

*Mr Daryl Maguire:* This Government delivers.

*Mr JAMIE PARKER:* I acknowledge the interjection by the Government Whip
that this Government delivers. Let us look at a time line. Will it be this
year, next year, or the year after? The community needs an assurance that
there will be progress on the matter. I thank the residents and members of
the community who have fought so hard for this issue.

*ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Gareth Ward):* Order! I thank members in the public
gallery for their attendance this afternoon. The discussion of petitions
allows members of the public to bring forward ideas and to have them heard
in your Parliament.

*Discussion concluded. *

* *

*Source:
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/hanstrans.nsf/V3ByKey/LA20120823?open&refNavID=HA1_1
*****

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