A SOLO protester holding anti-Ross Jackson placards including “stick to playing with trains” gate-crashed a press conference with federal Labor MP Anthony Albanese at the Albury Railway Station yesterday.
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Labor’s transport spokesman made a flying visit to Albury to support the party’s state election candidate and call on the federal government to re-ignite the push for high speed rail between Sydney and Melbourne.
Mr Albanese has a Private Members’ Bill before Parliament pushing for the creation of a high speed rail authority.
But the protester, freelance graphic artist John Enever, stood silently in front of Mr Albanese holding disparaging caricatures of Mr Jackson.
One said: “Hey Albo, if we get rid of compulsory voting I might have a chance”.
Mr Enever said his opposition to compulsory voting motivated him to attend the media event.
“In Albury there is not really anyone to vote for,” he said.
“You have to choose out of the worst and if you don’t want to vote, you shouldn’t have to.”
Mr Enever added he felt Mr Jackson didn’t respect other candidates, which was disputed by the Labor candidate.
“I don’t see how he could come to that conclusion,” Mr Jackson said.
Mr Albanese accused the Abbott government of walking away from high speed rail, which could transform regional centres like Albury.
He said the lack of Coalition support was evident, with $52 million to create a high speed rail authority to start planning and corridor acquisition scrapped.
“They say they support it, but they have walked away from the creation of this planning authority,” Mr Albanese said.
“They are using as an excuse the lack of support from state government, in particular the NSW Government.”
He said state governments had a crucial role to play in high speed rail.
“(NSW Labor leader) Luke Foley is supportive of high speed rail,” he said.
“We have here a candidate (Mr Jackson) who would take to Macquarie Street passionate advocacy for this project.”
Farrer MP Sussan Ley disputed her government wasn’t treating high speed rail seriously.
“Infrastructure Australia is formulating a 15-year plan for the future needs of the nation and we will very much take into account any advice they provide on high speed rail,” she said.
“Rather than wait for the report, senior people in the transport department are already working with the states to reserve a corridor and consider all relevant matters to ensure it can be built if there is a demonstrated need.”