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The Australian Greens have announced a plan to fast track the construction of high speed rail on the eastern seaboard on the second day of the election campaign, according to its latest statement on Tuesday.
According to the statement, as part of an agreement to support the minority Labor government, the Australian Greens secured a 20 million AU dollars (almost 17.8 million U.S. dollars) feasibility study into the high speed rail.
That feasibility study demonstrated that the rail would cut pollution, enhance business and passenger transport and generate positive economic returns. And the commissioned phase two report laid down a plan for rolling out the High Speed Rail Project in several stages.
The Greens said that high speed rail will be a great "stimulus package" for the southeastern states and the manufacturing sector as the economy slows. High speed rail will boost the economies of regional centers along the route.
"Australia needs twenty-first century infrastructure," Greens Leader Christine Milne said, "the Greens have been taking the lead on high speed rail, including securing a landmark study as part of the negotiations to form government."
"This is a nation-building project that will improve connectedness between our cities and towns, boost economic competitiveness and provide better transport options for millions of Australians for generations to come." Greens Deputy Leader and High Speed Rail spokesperson Adam Bandt said.
"The Greens are worried that old parties are putting high speed rail on the slow track. We want to get moving. Australia and Antarctica are now the only two continents in the world where there is no high speed rail project underway," he added.
