Jo Haylen, Member for Summer Hill, condemned the Baird Government’s cruel and cowardly decision to sit on the Russell Report, which called for an overhaul of compulsory property acquisitions.

Minister Perrottet wrote to the Premier in December 2015 explaining that Roads and Maritime Services and other key agencies involved in Westconnex were concerned Russell’s recommendations would be too complicated and expensive.

Families whose homes were acquired were routinely left hundreds of thousands of dollars out of pocket.

Quotes attributable to the Member for Summer Hill

“This letter shows that the process was rigged against the inner west families from the very beginning.

“Families and residents have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in an acquisition process the Government knew was unfair and did nothing about.

“They wilfully hid from the community that the process would leave them worse off.

“The Premier apologised and said the Government could have done better. Well, this Government shows they knew they had to better, that they were told how to do better, and still did absolutely nothing.

“The Premier should release the Russell Report now.”