Christian
Kerr writes:

It’s also
been Budget week in the West, where the Carpenter Government has moved to take
full control of the trouble-plagued Perth to Mandurah railway and pay off
all debt.

Treasurer
Eric Ripper announced “$1.3 billion of the 2005-06 surplus being used to make the Perth to Mandurah Railway completely debt
free on completion. This will save up to $75 million a year in interest
payments, which can instead be directed to health, education and community
safety.”

So there
may have been cost problems with the project – but that’s a pretty neat way to
settle it. Economically, politically and for the media.

Peter Fray

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