Most of those refugees will be from inner west and soon with the f6 construction, inner south, thanks to foundation and cracking issues in their homes.

The rest will be from along the route of the proposed western Metro...

If you Victorians want to know how to set up refugee camps, then we QLDers can offer advice as we have been doing that for refugees from NSW **and** Brian, you Victorians, for quite a long time. Your Victorian themed refugee camp is called Noosa and situated an hour or two north of Brisbane. Others from various southern states know the main refugee camp as Gold Coast and you lot have been coming here for decades and we thank you for all that $$$$.

A century ago, early 1919, we QLDers set up refugee camps for you lot from down south when you tried to bring your deadly Spanish flu into our humble state of QLD. We set up the refugee camps at Wallangarra and Shark Bay, now called Rainbow Bar, near Coolangatta.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-05/the-deadly-spanish-flu-and-qld-nsw-border-closure-100-years-on/10781296

My browser just ate the long version .

Some Post Mortum comments:

*Terrible* campaign by Gladys & Libs:

• Didn't dare run on their record (focus groups would have told them not to)
• Initially ran a campaign of "targetted" infrastructure spending (ie pork)
• When it *looked* like this wasn't working, went negative - but hopelessly:
• "You'll pay for it Daley?" WTF?
• this in the context where gvt is promising tax cuts and knocking down near new stadiums

ALP campaign almost as bad, with a terrible policy platform

• Tried for a "small target" strategy
• Looked at Vic State election result
• also no doubt focus groups telling them Gvt on the nose, just need to not f up to win gvt
• But VIC ALP took to electorate a big infrastructure spend.  NSW ALP's biggest transport policy was "cashback on tolls".  WTF?
• Terrible policy, but also terrible politics.  Yes, people hate toll roads.  But highlights past ALP's inability to get rid of them, and says "we aren't offering anything better"
• A "small target" strategy with a poorly known candidate is at high risk of stuffups, and in this context Daley's bigotted comments did a lot more damage than they otherwise might have (ie ALP ain't a suitable alternative) - and -
• it instantly undid all the damage to the Libs from their Fed's incessant  dog whistling.

Even though I don't like Gladys and some of her team, and think that the Stadium issue is a waste, its only been 8 years since the ALP were booted out for incompetence and infighting. Memories of that take time to fade away.

That said, I didn't vote as I am Overseas, and in my electorate (Sydney) an Independent holds a big margin.

I note Ms Berejiklian said she was the first  woman to be elected premier, and said she was proud the state would vote in a woman and "someone with a long surname". As she was speaking to a NSW audience, she obviously meant first NSW female premier elected in her own right https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-23/nsw-election-results-see-coalition-return/10929808

No doubt another Australian female premier, also with a long surname, Annastacia Palaszczuk, will congratulate Gladys. The first Australian female premier elected in her own right was another QLDer, Anna Bligh, in 2009.

first female liberal premier

If a report on Nine is to be believed, the first female former Party Leader to congratulate Gladys was Julia Gillard.

Looks like the knives are out... already... Was the final week snatching defeat from the jaws of victory? There was a clear backlash from some quarters that complicated the reelection of sitting ALP MPs.

https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-24/nsw-election-flip-means-michael-daley-to-face-leadership-spill/10934330?pfmredir=sm

Was the final week snatching defeat from the jaws of victory?

Not really.  I suspect the targeted pork campaign of the Libs might have been quite effective, but it wouldn't show up in the general polls across the whole electorate.  Each seat needs to be polled individually, an no-one has the resources to do that effectively.

Also, the Libs bled votes, but the 2PP polls aren’t as indicative of the actual results because NSW has optional preferential voting.  Votes to Fred Nile and the Shooters don't end up with the ALP as they might Federally.  The Libs and Nats suffered more in the regions (and rightly so), but it did not result in a single ALP gain.

Ultimately though, you can't expect to win using the Stephen Bradbury strategy if during the last lap you are going to trip over yourself.  

Daley was inevitably going to be an unknown quantity, and any stumbles on the campaign trail were always going to paint him as unsuitable to be Premier, whereas Foley - if could have kept his hands to himself - might have gotten away with the odd blunder.

The bottom line is the ALP were unable to put up either a sufficiently suitable candidate, nor a sufficiently compelling platform - despite being gifted a ridiculously generous opportunity to do so by a government that - IMHO - deserved to lose.

Both NSW major parties did terrible.

They both didn't offer anything really bold for transportation.

WA Labor announced Metro Net and won the election.

Vic Labor announced Suburban Rail loop and increased their majority in their own right.

Yes transportation isn't just the only issue, but did come up as an important issue.

With the badly planned private light rail delays, a unpopular road project (westconnex), plus delays to North connex, closing off the heavy rail to Newcastle to developers and also the changes to the North west rail link to metro for no good reason at all, leaves me the question?

Is anyone in NSW happy the way their major transport projects are managed?

Also there are alot of upcoming road projects to come and less rail ones. Like the Northern Beaches link (road), F-6 extension (road), Bankstown metro (rail), High speed rail (rail)

Also the opposition just showed NSW gov was wasting money, privatising assets and over-developing. But didn't come up with their own plan.
Opposition didn't have any pipeline of transport projects either. All I heard is cancel a few road projects, cancel a rail project, build an expensive rail tunnel, and fast forward metro west.

It was like none of them were ready for an election and just threw a bunch of ideas together and see what would work or won't work. But what NSW needs is a vision, direction and looking after it's own people. Building the right infrastructure and giving people jobs locally and not sending it over to private companies that tries to squeeze as much profit as they can.

With this election Now being over, we need a federal election thread. Where could it best be set up?

Barnaby was on the ch 7 election panel on Saturday nite, and he looked panicked. Yes, the Nats will be wiped off the map federally. Will there be a leadership spill before then, or should he just focus on Tamworth?

Surprised that the Liberals took the win on Saturday, but I guess Daley was effed over hard by the smeg that happened the week before. Heres to the new liberal premier for the next 4 (or less) years in NSW

With this election Now being over, we need a federal election thread. Where could it best be set up?

Barnaby was on the ch 7 election panel on Saturday nite, and he looked panicked. Yes, the Nats will be wiped off the map federally. Will there be a leadership spill before then, or should he just focus on Tamworth?

Also saw Barnaby.on 7. And he should be panicked. Banged on about selling their message, people aren't buying the Smeg you're selling.
Such a polite inoffensive and charming character that he is.

By the way ANR I thought you might find this interesting. Hospital redevelopment outside Sydney

Dubbo Hospital redevelopment - http://www.dubbohospitalredevelopment.health.nsw.gov.au/
Griffith hospital redevelopment -  https://www.nswnationals.org.au/work-well-underway-on-griffith-base-hospital-redevelopment/
Broken Hill health service redevelopment - https://www.hinfra.health.nsw.gov.au/our-projects/project-search/broken-hill-health-service-redevelopment
Mudgee Hospital redevelopment - https://wnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/our-organisation/our-initiatives/building-projects/mudgee-hospital-redevelopment
Lismore Base Hospital redevelopment - http://www.lbhredevelopment.health.nsw.gov.au/
Gosford Hospital redevelopment -  http://www.gwhr.health.nsw.gov.au/
Tweed Valley hospital - http://www.tweedvalleyhospital.health.nsw.gov.au/
Macksville - https://mnclhd.health.nsw.gov.au/hospitals/mnclhd-major-capital-works/macksville-hospital-development/

Forgot to add Wagga Wagga - http://www.wwhsredev.health.nsw.gov.au/Overview/Stage-Three
and also these - http://www.hnehealth.nsw.gov.au/Our-building-projects/Pages/default.aspx

With this election Now being over, we need a federal election thread. Where could it best be set up?

Take a look in The Lounge; there's been one running for weeks.

Sims, I can't directly reply to your post about hospital funding in the regions (my Android device won't let me).

Any such capital works funding and upgrades are always welcome because it means that people do not have to travel far for medical needs. If someone has a leukemia for example and they live in Dubbo, they will be brought to RPA for treatment.

However, it would be better if Dubbo, or Orange developed an expertise, and people in the surrounding areas could stay closer to home for treatment e.g. go home on the weekend or after treatment.

The money listed against each project provides for the capital, but it is another story altogether to provide adequate staffing levels, nurses, doctors, pathology etc.

Despite the upgrade in Wagga, it did not translate to votes. If Dubbo hospital is such a hit, why did the Nationals scrape through in Dubbo today?

I see my own hospital and what it has degenerated into. You would bypass it in an emergency and have to travel a couple of hours in either direction depending on the problem. They have closed wards, cut nurses, doctors, and services. Yes, it is my choice to live where I do, but established services set up after one election, get shut down after the next one. No, there is no additional funding for this hospital and its capacity relies on whether the sitting member is in government.

Why did the shooters win the wild west? Because on the coalition's watch, the Darling River system was drained. Broken Hill is being reconnected to an expensive pipeline from the south it didn't need, causing issues for the Murray,  and it would appear that Macquarie Street (both major parties) are hell bent on decimating what remains of Bourke, Wilcannia (did they get their polling station?), Menindee, White Cliffs, Condobolin and surrounds.  In the meantime, the shooters will keep making gains eastward. The green section of Antony Green's NSW map will turn brown next time, and not even Barnaby, with all his charisma is going to change it.

I wasn't posting those in relation to changing your vote ANR. Just to show you that money is being spent out that way go forward. Staffing levels will always be an issue because the youth of today don't seem to want to work in these areas. I agree that I would love to see Dubbo and other regional hospitals be self reliant on the cancer issue. I think we all know the shooters won those seats because of the water issue. Could they really move further east going forward or will they just average out like the greens. Dubbo was a battle with a local independent and not a shooters party candidate.

According to Media Watch, ABC tv on Monday nights in the town of Menindee near the drained lakes and the millions of dead fish along the Darling River, out of the population of 400 voters apparently 7, yes SEVEN votes were cast for the Nationals in the once very safe nationals seat, now held by the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party.

Mike.

According to Media Watch, ABC tv on Monday nights in the town of Menindee near the drained lakes and the millions of dead fish along the Darling River, out of the population of 400 voters apparently 7, yes SEVEN votes were cast for the Nationals in the once very safe nationals seat, now held by the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party.

Mike.

That seems to validate the election numbers in the area. Is there something you are trying to say?

The problem with the X2000 example of tilt was the x2000 was an extremely wide carriage. The tilt couldn't be used in the ten tunnels for instance without fouling. The same problem shouldn't happen for narrower rolling stock but I fear the reason why is because of extra work and reliability issues with tilting systems is a concern.

As for speed the xplorer is actually quicker through the twisty bits then the XPT is and the XPT has a wheel design that induces a tilt. The new diesel electric design of the new regional rolling stock will also make the trains even faster with 200+km/h capability and better acceleration and braking in the twisty bits. Sure tilt would be nice but if some line straightening happens then is it really necessary.

I'm well aware of the problems of getting the X2000 to tilt; I was actively involved in the infrastructure changes needed to make it fit, but in the end, tilt it did (well in most places).
Still doesn't alter the fact that there needs to be considerable curve easing in NSW before a tilt body train can shine

The problem with the X2000 example of tilt was the x2000 was an extremely wide carriage. The tilt couldn't be used in the ten tunnels for instance without fouling. The same problem shouldn't happen for narrower rolling stock but I fear the reason why is because of extra work and reliability issues with tilting systems is a concern.

As for speed the xplorer is actually quicker through the twisty bits then the XPT is and the XPT has a wheel design that induces a tilt. The new diesel electric design of the new regional rolling stock will also make the trains even faster with 200+km/h capability and better acceleration and braking in the twisty bits. Sure tilt would be nice but if some line straightening happens then is it really necessary.

I'm well aware of the problems of getting the X2000 to tilt; I was actively involved in the infrastructure changes needed to make it fit, but in the end, tilt it did (well in most places).
Still doesn't alter the fact that there needs to be considerable curve easing in NSW before a tilt body train can shine

I sympathise with Lockspike regarding the X2000.

Although most of the dimensions were known well before the train arrived, there were large links between the body and bogies just below platform level that hadn't been taken account of. As a result, some very recent platform upgrades in Canberra and some much older platforms such as Goulburn had to be trimmed back losing a steel edge that had been fitted in some locations.

I rode from Canberra to Moss Vale in the X2000, and that doesn't involve the section with the most curves from Picton to Mittagong.  I think that  the X2000 had potential but a lot of work would have been required before it would work smoothly on the curves in NSW, even on the easier section south of Moss Vale.

Using the word "straightening" for the construction of an entirely new line from around Menagle to Yerrinbool is a little ingenuous. The existing line can't be "straightened" without increasing the grades to a degree that heavy freight (like the coal trains to Port Kembla) could no longer use the line.

Building a new line will cost tens of billions of dollars, more than the NSW Government would ever consider spending. Much more than the number John Barilaro suggested would be available for all of the transport upgrades in NSW.

Anybody who expects the NSW Government to significantly improve the Main South north of Moss Vale is dreaming.

I'm still trying to work out how, according to the Prime Miinister, train times from Melbourne to Geelong can be halved by track improvements between Melbourne and Sunshine..... I saw him say it....

Peter

I'm well aware of the problems of getting the X2000 to tilt; I was actively involved in the infrastructure changes needed to make it fit, but in the end, tilt it did (well in most places).
Still doesn't alter the fact that there needs to be considerable curve easing in NSW before a tilt body train can shine

Speaking of the X2000's platform clearance problems, you lot missed a good day's entertainment when that tilt train leased from Sweden arrived at Murwillumbah 10 March 1995 for the demonstration trip!!! On board were the usual politicians and Countrylink officials as well as assorted local big wigs plus similar assembled on the platform to greet it. The local school band were there and Rotary was in charge of the sausage sizzle.

They stopped the train on the appointed spot and the local TV station's camera rolled waiting for the door to open and waited and waited and waited and waited ... but the platform was too high. After reversing to where a curve in the platform allowed the outward opening door to open, they got off the train. But, to the embarrassment of the officials,  the TV station's camera kept rolling during the whole stuff up!!

Later mainline loco 8214 arrived with XP2009 in tow with its cab facing towards Casino. Then they fitted the converter coupler to the rear of XP 2009 and removed the front cover off the Swedish tilt train's coupler and coupled the two together so the demo train could head to Casino.

My pictures of this, including 8214 at Murwillumbah, were in my detailed article on the day's events in the March April 1995 edition of 'Journal', the magazine of the Australian Model Railway association, available from AMRA.

There has also been talk that the line to bomaderry is going to get passing loops and possibly some more frequent services and eventually overhead. The Xplorers may also be refurbished to increase certain services post new regional fleet.

I will have whatever you have obviously been on!!!

There has also been talk that the line to bomaderry is going to get passing loops and possibly some more frequent services and eventually overhead. The Xplorers may also be refurbished to increase certain services post new regional fleet.

I will have whatever you have obviously been on!!!

I'm not on anything. The first part is actually going to happen with the passing loops and upgraded track part of the fixing rail program. https://www.theland.com.au/story/5439118/farm-rail-freight-costs-to-drop-in-11-major-upgrades/

According to Media Watch, ABC tv on Monday nights in the town of Menindee near the drained lakes and the millions of dead fish along the Darling River, out of the population of 400 voters apparently 7, yes SEVEN votes were cast for the Nationals in the once very safe nationals seat, now held by the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party.

Mike.

That seems to validate the election numbers in the area. Is there something you are trying to say?

No need for me to say anything more...and the constituents have said plenty.

M.