The emergence of an election flyer produced by the high profile Coalition Candidate for Bennelong claiming he would ‘fight for’ the Parramatta to Epping Rail Link as part of his ‘real action plan’ leaves Tony Abbott isolated in his opposition to this project.

Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said Mr Abbott has again today refused to invest anything in Western Sydney’s transport infrastructure, despite the alternative Deputy Prime Minister, Warren Truss, racking up $40 billion worth of road and rail promises in 40 seconds at their Campaign Launch on Sunday.

“What’s more, despite initially opposing the Moreton Bay Rail Link in Brisbane, it only took Mr Abbott five hours to do a back-flip and match Federal Labor’s pledge to build it,” said Anthony Albanese.

“By releasing the letter from the Liberal Deputy Lord Mayor of Parramatta, Cr Chiang Lim, the Coalition has today kicked an own goal.

“The letter simply confirms that not only have I been meeting with Labor representatives about this project, but also key Liberals from Western Sydney who have lobbied me to receive federal funding as far back as 15 April.

“Mr Abbott is trying to have it both ways. Firstly, he says this project has been on the drawing board since 1998. Then in the next breath, he says there’s been a lack of proper planning and that this project has just fallen from the skies.

“The simple fact is that Mr Abbott – the politician who doesn’t think the Federal Government should be in the business of building new rail lines – is not only ignoring the calls for action from his own handpicked candidate, but has more importantly turned his back on the residents of Western Sydney.

“Only the Gillard Labor Government has a plan to build this important project.”