NSW: Opposition says Carr over-reacts to Waterfall

AAP General News (Australia)
02-10-2004
NSW: Opposition says Carr over-reacts to Waterfall

SYDNEY, Feb 10 AAP - The NSW opposition has accused the Carr government of over-reacting
to the Waterfall tragedy, as a number of drivers continues to protest against safety measures
introduced in the wake of the crash.

Sydney rail commuters face a week of delays, with driver shortages forcing the cancellation
of 88 CityRail services, including 23 peak services, until Friday.

The shortage is partly because drivers must now be available for new stricter medical
tests introduced after the Waterfall train derailment, which killed seven people in January
last year.

Drivers must also be available to learn a new emergency braking system, also being
implemented after Waterfall.

But other drivers are refusing to work overtime to make up for the shortage.

NSW Premier Bob Carr said yesterday a small group of troublemaker train-drivers, unhappy
with the stricter medical tests implemented after Waterfall, was to blame for the cancellations
and delays.

Opposition Leader John Brogden said the rail system was held together by a "ratty old
band aid" if a handful of renegade drivers could cause such chaos.

"They (the government) have known for years they haven't had enough drivers," Mr Brogden
told 2UE radio today.

"I think the mistake the government made is probably over-reacting to Waterfall in
an attempt to try to manically fix the problem by putting in place a set of rules that
are unrealistic.

"This is a problem of the government's own doing."

Mr Brogden also criticised the fact drivers needed two years training, which he said
was more than some emergency service personnel.

"I don't think it (the training) should be longer than training a police officer," he said.

But Mr Carr today defended the government's measures to try to clean up the system
by conducting the mandatory health checks, and urged drivers to do the right thing.

He also said the government would try to make it possible for GPs to disclose all medical
details of rail staff.

"This is purely about safety," Mr Carr told 2UE.

"We made an iron-clad commitment we would do what we could to avoid (another Waterfall) that."

AAP ved/sd/maur/jlwv

KEYWORD: TRAINS SECOND DAYLEAD

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