24 February 2008
Members of the campaign to scrap the controversial and discredited Hale Street Link toll bridge project are unhappy about some ‘misleading’ ALP local government election materials which appear to claim credit for outcomes achieved by the campaign.
“Let’s be quite clear about this,” said Stop the Hale Street Bridge Alliance spokesman David Bratchford, “every hard won concession gained by the campaign has been due to the untiring efforts of the ordinary citizens who contribute their time to it.”
“Our elected representatives only responded to the pressure we placed on them, and should not be claiming credit.”
“Among our supporters are members or supporters of all political parties, but our campaign is non partisan and beholden to no political party,” said Mr Bratchford.
“Nevertheless we feel it’s our civic duty to highlight the differences between the political parties on the Hale Street Link toll bridge project.”
“This project is highly unpopular in the inner southern suburbs and is shaping as a key election issue in the Gabba ward.”
“When electors decide how they’ll vote in City Council election on Saturday 15 March we ask them to compare the policies of the candidates and their parties on the HSL project.”
“So far only the Greens have come out against it.”
“It’s a pet project of Liberal Lord Mayor Campbell Newman and his backers in the engineering and construction industry.”
“And despite some political game playing, the Labor majority in council has voted for it and supported it all the way, even if Councillor Abrahams was allowed to vote against it. The ALP’s shameful track record in the council chamber speaks for itself. Talk is cheap; actions speak much louder.”
“Before they nominated as candidates in the election both Greens candidate for Gabba ward Drew Hutton and Greens Lord Mayoral candidate Jo Bragg were very active in the campaign to stop this unpopular and discredited project.”
“HSL is opposed by the overwhelming majority of locals, with over 90% of the several thousand public submissions on the project received from the inner southern suburbs saying it should not be built, ” said Mr Bratchford.
“It’s
not too late to stop this expensive white elephant – send a clear
message when you cast your vote in the 15 March election.”
For more comment and information:
David Bratchford – 0403 339 777
About the Stop the Hale Street Bridge Alliance
An alliance of residents, parents, business people and community organisations to raise awareness surrounding the proposed CBD toll bridge. The Alliance’s city-wide strategy challenges the spin and questions the claimed benefits of the project.
