The current federal government has revealed another pre-election promise ahead of the nation hitting the polls on May 3, pledging to return the Western Australian rail freight network to public hands.
If re-elected, the Albanese government says it will work with the WA government to make the freight rail network public once again.
Previous governments in the state privatised the network back in 2000 in a move that the current federal government says has “stunted investment in the network” for a quarter of a century.
The government says improving rail freight will also diversify the economy, unlock future local jobs and grow the state’s economy.
To do so, the government says it’ll invest $2.5 million to support the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) to work with the WA government on undertaking due diligence and a feasibility study to take back control of parts of the network.
The study will also consider how the state’s freight rail network can be integrated with the ARTC’s interstate rail network, including the potential for the Commonwealth to take direct control of the east-west rail line from Kalgoorlie to Fremantle.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the WA government has already started negotiating to bring the network back into government hands.
“Our rail network is our nation’s nervous system – it is so important that these key freight lines remain productive, viable and well maintained,” he says.
“We will work with the Cook Labor government to fund a study to assess the viability of bringing these rail lines back into public hands.
“This will ensure our freight system remains strong and viable for many years to come.”
WA premier Roger Cook says public control of the network would deliver economic benefits for the state while supporting lower freight costs, supply chain productivity and reduced trucks on roads.
“My government wants to bring WA’s rail freight network back into public hands where it belongs,” he says.
“The ripple effects of the former WA Liberal government’s decision to privatise the rail network are still being felt today – and we want to work with a re-elected Albanese government to turn that around.
“Taking control back of our rail freight network will help diversify our economy for the future, create local jobs and ensure all Western Australians, no matter where they live, have access to the services they need.”
Federal transport and infrastructure minister Catherine King says the east-west rail line is a key part of the move, proving to be an “essential link” connecting WA to the eastern states.
“As we saw in 2022, when this line goes out of action, freight movements and supply chains come to a screeching halt,” King says.
“A re-elected Albanese Labor government will work with the WA government to bring the WA freight rail network back into public hands, ensuring it gets the investment it needs to lower freight costs and better connect Australia for another hundred years.”
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