Premier stands firm on rail decision despite largest protest rally to date

The largest ever gathering of pro-rail supporters came together in Civic Park on Sunday in a last-ditch attempt to make their voices heard.

State Opposition Leader John Robertson, Victorian Greens senator Janet Rice, Awabakal deputy chairman Richard Green and Save Our Rail’s Jean Dawson were among those who addressed the crowd.

Mr Robertson said the state government had ‘‘no legal basis’’ to cut the rail and called on Premier Mike Baird to release any legal advice he may have been given that supports his decision. 

‘‘If Mike Baird wants to continue with this arrogant assault on public transport then it falls on him to release his legal advice that what he is doing is within the law,’’ he said. Under the transport administration act, the government needs Parliament’s authority to close a rail line, and Mr Robertson challenged the government to show the act of Parliament it would need to make the cut.

‘‘Mike Baird has no electoral mandate to commit this act of vandalism and he has failed to seek the parliamentary authorisation necessary for a legal mandate,’’ he said. Mr Baird chose not to respond to  Mr Robertson’s comments.

‘‘The best thing John Robertson can do for Newcastle now is simple – get out of the way,’’ he said in a statement issued after the rally. 

 ‘‘We will be proceeding with our plans to revitalise Newcastle, which will turn the city into one of the jewels of the Asia-Pacific region.’’

‘‘Newcastle was paralysed by a lack of action under the former Labor Government – we will not make the same mistake.’’

 Mr Robertson told the Herald: ‘‘When Mike Baird tells Labor to get out of the way, he is thumbing his nose at the community who have said ‘hands off our rail line’.’’

Mr Robertson said if Labor won the next state election,  it  would reinstate public transport to the CBD.

Several of those who attended reported that the trains running into Newcastle on Sunday were full.

After assembling in Pacific Park, the crowd marched through the mall towards Civic Park for more speeches.

 Newcastle police estimated the crowd was about 2000, while rally organisers calculated the figure to be between  3500 and 4000.

Those marching chanted a variety of war cries ranging from ‘‘Save our city; save our rail!’’ to the more direct ‘‘Don’t cut the rail line!’’

At Civic Park, Ms Dawson said Save Our Rail would not give up the fight  even after the rail line  has been cut. She said the group would take ‘‘direct action’’ against the decision if need be. 

Members of the crowd said the train was their only practical transport option into the city from areas such as Dungog and Gosford, and it made living in the country without a car easier.

Colin Scott of the Australian Retailers Association said on Sunday afternoon that the event was ‘‘really not significant enough to comment on’’.

Gladys Berejiklian, state Minister for Transport and Minister for Hunter, said work on light rail infrastructure would begin in late 2015 and work on the interchange would begin ‘‘right away’’.

‘‘The NSW Government is committed to transforming the Newcastle CBD and boosting jobs and the economy with high quality, modern transport infrastructure and services,’’ she said. 

‘‘This issue has been debated for more than 20 years ...

‘‘The heavy rail line will be truncated from 26 December – opening up the CBD to the foreshore.’’