Nationals Concerned Over Future of High Speed Rail

 BY OLI GOELDNER

Hunter-based Nationals senator Ross Cadell is unsure whether a Coalition government would continue on the High Speed Rail project if elected. 

Earlier this week, the project's business case was released to the public, disclosing the current plans to its development. 

The High Speed Rail Authority has set the estimated cost of the Newcastle to Sydney line at nearly $90 billion, with the next two years to be spent on developing the final route plans.  

It was also announced the federal government would be investing an additional $230 million into the project, putting the current expenditure at $660 million overall. 

However, Senator Cadell is concerned the project may never come to fruition. 

"We're spending hundreds of millions of dollars on feasibility studies for a project that will cost $100 billion in today's dollars," he said. 

"We all know these budgets flow out and there is no allocation in the future.

"I don't think we'll see the start of this in two years, I don't think we'll see the finish of this in 50 years." 

Ahead of next year's state election, Senator Cadell said if the vote goes to the Coalition, it's uncertain whether the project will be continued. 

"I can't speak for everyone, but clearly I've got some concerns and I'll be voicing those concerns" he said. 

"If our party room and shadow cabinet allay those concerns that will be supportive.

"But, I have not seen anything at the moment that shows a funding source where we can come up with $100 billion - that the government doesn't have - to fund it." 

Picture: Nationals Senator Ross Cadell. 

Newcastle named safest Labor stronghold in the country

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A post-election pendulum's revealed, Newcastle is the Federal Government's safest seat in the country.

According to ABC election analyst Antony Green, Labor's Sharon Claydon holds the seat with an 18 percent margin on the two-party preferred count.

Meanwhile, Paterson with 3.3 percent, Hunter with 4 percent, and Shortland with 5.8 percent were among the party's most marginal electorates.

Labor holds on to Hunter seats as Albanese sworn in as PM

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Counting continues for the 2022 Federal Election, but Labor has managed to hold on to its four Hunter seats, with the party poised to make Government.

Leader Anthony Albanese was sworn in as Prime Minister on Monday morning, though it's not yet clear if he'll lead a majority government, or a minority with confidence and supply from a Greens and independent-packed crossbench.

Scott Morrison conceded as early as Saturday night, and resigned from the Liberal Party leadership.

Closer to home, Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon has kept her seat, despite a surge toward Greens candidate Charlotte McCabe.

Shortland MP Pat Conroy gained a slight swing over Liberal competitor Nell McGill, meaning he'll serve a third term and could grab a position in Albanese's cabinet.

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson achieved victory in Paterson, despite Liberal challenger Brooke Vitnell narrowing the margin to make it the closest seat in the region.

The Coalition also pressed hard in Hunter, but visits by Scott Morrison, Barnaby Joyce, and John Howard weren't enough to propel Nationals candidate James Thomson into parliament.

Labor candidate Dan Repacholi is now set to take over the reins from the retiring Joel Fitzgibbon. 

Nationals MP David Gillespie remains the region's only Coalition partner, comfortably holding on to his seat of Lyne for a fourth term.

Image credit: Dan Repacholi.

Zombie Gas Licenses Bubbling Under Upper Hunter Battleground

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Twelve so-called 'zombie' coal seam gas exploration licenses across the state are becoming a hot topic in the upcoming Upper Hunter by-election following calls to have them cancelled alongside the Shenhua coal mine.

The NSW Parliament is scheduled to debate legislation next month which could see all expired licenses extinguished across the Upper Hunter.

But the Coalition currently hold just 46 of the Legislative Assembly's 93 seats, meaning a failure to retain the seat could give the winner the decisive vote for or against cancelling the licenses.

Independent MP Justin Field, who brought on the legislation for debate, says Upper Hunter voters deserved to know each candidate's position on the license issue.

"They've been hanging over the heads of the community for as much as a decade," Mr Field said. 

"These [petroleum exploration licenses] expired but the Government has refused to make a final decision on their future, whether to renew them or whether to cancel them."

Deputy Premier John Barilaro reportedly told farmers from Breeza in the Liverpool Plains that the Government intended to buy out remaining licenses held by energy company Santos.

Santos also hold four expired licenses across the Upper Hunter.

Mr Field says the actions of Nationals' members did not match up with claims they wished to see uncertainty come to an end for agricultural areas.

"Whoever wins, there's a chance that the Government could be in a minority government after this election," Mr Field said.

"That might mean that there's the balance in the Upper House and the Lower House to see this bill become law."