Transport Minister Andrew Constance was quizzed about his refusal to meet with Illawarra Rail Fail during a parliamentary hearing.
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And despite asked twice, the minister declined to explain his reason for not meeting the group.
In May, a petition with more than 2000 signatures calling for action on overcrowding on the South Coast line was tabled in parliament.
That petition was started by Illawarra Rail Fail founder, commuter Bronwyn Batten.
In July, when she felt the response she received from Mr Constance wasn’t suitable, she requested a meeting.
The minister knocked back that request – after having also said no to Keira MP Ryan Park’s invitation to catch one of the crowded afternoon South Coast services.
During a recent NSW Parliament budget estimates hearing, the Greens’ Cate Faehrmann asked the minister why he’d refused to meet with the group.
“I get requests by the truckload, in my role, as you can imagine,” Mr Constance said.
“The point that I would make to any group calling itself ‘Rail Fail’ when you have a government that is investing like it is, is that we will continue to invest.”
He added the region had a “tiger” in Kiama MP Gareth Ward, who “constantly talks to me about ways in which we can improve the services”.
“We have given a significant uplift in the number of services for the Illawarra,” the minister said.
“We will continue to do so, and we will continue to invest in the Illawarra.”
When Ms Faehrmann said the more than 2000 signatures was a lot of people “who are disillusioned” with the trains on the South Coast line, Mr Constance responded “well, they are catching it”.
She then looked to confirm that he would not meet with Illawarra commuters.
"I meet with commuters right across the network,” he replied.
Ms Batten said the minister should be doing more than just talking with the “tiger” that is Mr Ward.
“It’s important that the minister represents the people and just doesn’t deal with members of his own party,” Ms Batten said.
“That’s what we’re coming up against – he’s not meeting with Ryan Park, he’s not meeting with [Wollongong MP] Paul Scully, he’s not meeting with us.
“It’s not good enough just to be working with your own party. A minister’s there to represent the people and the portfolio.
“We have genuine concerns and we’re a group that deserves to be met.”
Ms Batten said the big issue for her was what she saw as a failure of the government to address future concerns about overcrowding.
“We are facing a ticking time bomb of reduced seats and a growing population.”
Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
