Manly Ferry Inquiry Ignored –
Government Leaves Ferries In Too-Hard Basket

The NSW Government has shunned the recommendations of an independent inquiry and failed to implement private management for Sydney Ferries, putting union demands ahead of commuter interests, said Manly MP Mike Baird.

“This was an historic opportunity to improve the ferry service for this community and the new Premier has left it in the too-hard basket,” Mr Baird said.

“Instead of following the recommendations of the Walker Inquiry, which the NSW Government itself commissioned more than two years ago, they have once again bowed in to union pressure.

“If the NSW Government cared about ferry commuters, it would have listened to Walker and put a robust service contract in place with heightened demands on customer service, increased routes, improved reliability and upgraded vessels. From the announcement, the proposed service contract looks like nothing has changed.

“In Brisbane, patronage over the last three years has soared as commuters have benefited from a model that sets ‘customer service satisfaction’ as the key criteria.

“In Manly we have seen the private fast ferry service deliver significant improvements to customer service, with more environmentally friendly vessels and cheaper fares.

“Manly’s fast ferry service not only saves the government money but also brings in revenue through wharf access – why was this not pursued for the ferries on behalf of taxpayers?

“We will watch the performance of Sydney Ferries over the next 15 months and if there is not an ongoing improvement in patronage, service, fares, reliability, routes and government contribution then we will contract out the management, as Walker recommended.

“Sydney Harbour remains one of Sydney’s under utilised public transport opportunities – where is the innovation, passion and customer-service culture that exists in other cities?”

Reports in today’s The Australian newspaper quote Mr Walker as acknowledging the Government has let the public down. “The ferries are going backwards in real terms and they know it,” Mr Walker said.

“Even in the last financial year Sydney Ferries lost more than $14 million – there is no accountability and the new Premier has proved nothing has changed,” Mr Baird said.

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Mike Baird MP for Manly Sydney