The federal government has announced $500 million to develop a high-speed rail link for the Sydney to Newcastle train.

Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Bridget McKenzie, has questioned the move, stating that “the numbers don’t stack up”.

She accused the government of using this promise to win over Central Coast voters without having a structured and cost-effective plan in place to move people into cities.

The Senator exclaimed, “It is half a billion dollars and not one single track will be laid”.