The Baird Government has refused to answer questions from the Member for Summer Hill on the Russell Review, with the Minister for Finance, Services and Property failing to address the issue in Question Time.

On 24 August, the Government voted against debating a motion calling on the Government to release the Russell Review, which made recommendations to make compulsory acquisitions fairer.

A leaked letter from the Minister to Premier Baird advised that the Government sit on the report because its recommendations would make acquisitions more difficult and more expensive.

Hundreds of families have been ripped off hundreds of thousands of dollars on their value of their homes.

Quotes attributable to Jo Haylen, Member for Summer Hill

“The Baird Government can no longer hide the fact that Westconnex is a mess.

“They deliberately hid the Report, shut down debate and today, they refused to answer my question about how families were ripped off in the inner west.

“The Premier’s ‘apology’ is hollow because he knew about these problems from the beginning and didn’t act to fix them.

“The Premier was happy to let residents in Haberfield, Ashfield and St Peters pay for his mistakes.

“The Government must put an end to the secrecy and lies and release the Russell Review immediately. They owe these residents nothing less.”