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May 9th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has warned the state government may have to shelve work on road projects, amid an escalating funding stoush with Canberra.
In Tuesday’s budget, the federal government announced $3.56 billion for 50 per cent of upgrades to the Pacific Highway and called for NSW to match the funding.
But the NSW government said the announcement trashed a 2009 agreement stating the Commonwealth would fund 80 per cent of the upgrade and left NSW $2.31 billion short.
Both Mr O’Farrell and federal Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday produced documents they said proved their version of the funding arrangements.
Mr O’Farrell accused Mr Albanese, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and federal Treasurer Wayne Swan of “telling bald-faced lies about the funding deal for the Pacific Highway”, saying a 2009 Memorandum of Understanding had been signed with the previous Labor government.
“This government wants the same deal with the federal government that the former state Labor government had – that’s only fair,” Mr O’Farrell said during question time on Wednesday.
The funding shortfall would jeopardise work on the Pacific Highway, due for completion in 2016, as well as other road projects such as the Great Western Highway and Princes Highway, he said.
Mr Albanese responded by accusing NSW of “pretending” there was an 80-20 funding deal.
Speaking to reporters in Canberra Mr Albanese said he had rejected that model in 2009 when it was proposed by the then NSW transport minister David Campbell.
“The NSW government needs to put the politics aside … take responsibility for the commitments they made prior to March 2011 (the date of the state election), and get on with the job of fixing this highway,” Mr Albanese said.
NSW Treasurer Mike Baird said the loss of Pacific Highway funding came on top of a $5.4 billion shortfall in GST revenues over four years, and would force NSW to rethink its budget to be handed down next month.
“What the announcement of the Pacific Highway does is put at risk that completion deadline,” Mr Baird said, adding there would be discussions with Canberra before the state budget.
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