There are concerns that Sydney’s public transport is not being made here in Australia.

This comes after Sydney’s inner-west light rail will be out of action for up to 18 months due to design flaws.

Jo Haylen, NSW Shadow Transport Minister, told Jim Wilson the government needs to build vital public transport here in Australia.

“The other states are doing it … they are creating local jobs … we should be doing the same,” she said.

Ms Haylen told Jim Wilson it was a massive failure by the government.

“The inner-west light rail … in May just before the last lockdown there was half a million trips taken on this line alone,” she said.

“It has been shut down now for up to a year and a half, that’s thousands of passengers being forced onto these slower replacement buses.

“They are decommissioning this service because of their failure.

“The public paid over $40 million for the 12 Spanish built trams, they are now cracked … and out of action.”

Press Play to listen to the whole interview with Jo Haylen, NSW Shadow Transport Minister 

However Transport NSW COO Howard Collins defended the latest debacle in Sydney’s public transport.

Mr Collins told Jim Wilson that a lot of products from different industries are being made in other countries such as cars.

“We are doing a huge amount of work in this state, we are not doing nothing, often doing nothing, nothing goes wrong,” he said.

“What is actually happening is we are buying a lot of new stuff, we are certainly in a position where we have seen an unsatisfactory performance of those suppliers, we have been on the case, we have got our ferries now running to Manly … and certainly we are starting to understand where the issues are.

“I am not sure it is about where these things are made, it is really trying to make sure that when we get a product it is fit for purpose.

“And if it isn’t, we will make sure that people who are responsible do put it right.”

Press PLAY to hear the whole interview with Howard Collins