The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) has condemned the $1.1 billion blowout in the cost of replacing Sydney’s inner-city train fleet as the result of the Baird government’s decision to send rail manufacturing contracts overseas.
“Not only has the Baird government failed to invest in local manufacturing jobs, this government can’t even get their cheap, imported trains to work,” said Tim Ayres, New South Wales Secretary of the AMWU.
“Sydney needs high quality trains that are designed and built to work in Australian conditions. Buying cheap imports is not a solution and we have seen the cost of that today,” Mr Ayres said.
The decision to import trains was made by Gladys Berejiklian during her time as transport minister.
“This decision was an expensive mistake; not just for the NSW budget bottom line but for the families of Australia’s manufacturing workers. Sending manufacturing contracts overseas does not save money, it just costs jobs,” he said.
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