Announcements in the NSW Budget regarding changes to state significant infrastructure decisions and commitment of billions of dollars of public money for WestConnex, makes it clear that this Government is more interested in  serving the interests of the big end of town not the community, says Greens WestConnex spokesperson and member for Newtown Jenny Leong.

“WestConnex operates under an accountability smokescreen. No business case, no Environmental Impact Statement, a company with a questionable record being awarded contracts both for construction and assessing environmental risks,” she said.

MEDIA RELEASE: The NSW Government announcement of contracts worth $2.7 billion, and a preferred design for the M4 East tunnel ahead of planning approval or an Environmental Impact Statement process, puts the community at risk, according to Greens WestConnex spokesperson and MP for Newtown Jenny Leong.

The Greens have launched a fresh bid for a parliamentary inquiry into the toxic WestConnex Project, with Greens NSW Transport spokesperson Dr Mehreen Faruqi introducing a notice of motion into the NSW Legislative Council. (Full wording below).

Download the petition to support the inquiry and stop WestConnex

Following new revelations this morning undermining the over $15 billion WestConnex project – with the government’s own modelling showing the project will not ease congestion on Sydney’s roads – Greens WestConnex spokesperson and MP for Newtown Jenny Leong has called for a halt to this tollway disaster.

“WestConnex is shaping up as the Nightmare on King St parts 1 to 15 billion,” she said.

Media Release: 20 May 2015

The Greens NSW spokesperson for WestConnex and Member for Newtown Jenny Leong MP has expressed disgust at Minister for Roads Duncan Gay for his insulting comments directed at concerned residents opposed to WestConnex and congratulated Marrickville Council on their latest move to oppose the project

Minister Gaye’s comments in the SMH.

 “The school yard style insults reportedly made at a Committee for the Economic Development of Australia lunch by the Minister for Roads shows the complete disregard he has for genuine community concerns about the misuse of public money on polluting tollways,” Jenny said.

Jenny Leong MP for Newtown and NSW Greens spokesperson for WestConnex has congratulated Marrickville Council on their stand against WestConnex and in support of community action.

At their meeting on 19 May 2015, Marrickville Council passed a motion to create and fund the WestConnex Advisory Committee and called for a full parliamentary inquiry and a halt to the tender process.

Responding to Greens MP for Newtown Jenny Leong in Question Time today, Minister for Transport Andrew Constance confirmed the government would finally release parts of the full business case for WestConnex.

The Minister’s office confirmed that the non-commercial-in-confidence elements of the business case would be released in July.

Today we acknowledged the dedicated creativity and bravery of the WestConnex Action Group and all those who are standing up to the polluting and damaging WestConnex project.

The Greens have been campaigning to stop WestConnex and invest in public transport since this tollroad was announced in 2012.

In May 2016, Jenny Leong MP, convened the Peoples WestConnex Inquiry in the NSW Parliament which featured community speakers as well as health, environment and transport experts. 

As the former NSW Greens spokesperson on WestConnex and the Member for Newtown, Jenny has worked continuously alongside community action groups and local residents to highlight the major flaws and devastating impacts of the $16.8 billion dirty tollroad.

The Greens were instrumental in securing an NSW Parliamentary inquiry into the Impact of WestConnex in October 2018.

The Recommendations and Findings of Inquiry can be found here.

If you want to know more about the M4-M5 tunnel, you can find all the details here.

If you are concerned about the impact of the tunneling for the M4-M5, you can find details here.

The Greens have a track record of working with local communities to win campaigns against powerful, vested interests. We're committed to working with the community to stop WestConnex and invest in efficient, convenient public transport.

The Greens support cleaner, greener transport projects such as:

• An Inner West Light Rail Link heading up Parramatta Road, connecting the CBD to the inner west
• The proposed Western Sydney Light Rail Network, which would connect the Parramatta CBD to regional employment hubs such as Macquarie Park and Castle Hill
• Buying back the Airport Link from its private operator and slashing the Station Access Fee, which will take thousands off the road
• Investing in park-and-ride facilities at major train stations to encourage and divert thousands of commuters off the major roads and onto the public transport system as they commute into the city
• Integrating the cycleways for Sydney's west and inner west.