The Week In Review - Cross City Tunnel Leaves Thousands Cross

NSW Roads Minister Joe Tripodi has finally admitted that the NSW Government `compromised too much' in its contract with the operators of the Cross City Tunnel, which is proving to be a massive white elephant. Yes, we've all seen the photos of one lonely little car trundling its way through that too-shiny, too-expensive superhighway. The Sydney Morning Herald asked its online readers earlier this week what it would take them to use the tunnel. Some pollies and members of the public have already suggested a toll free period.

Not closing off every other bloody road in the vicinity and giving everyone the shits might also have helped. It's projects like this and arrogant corporations like the Cross City Tunnel's operators that make me glad that I don't have a car.

A sign of the trouble the tunnel has run into might be demonstrated by the fact that one Alan Jones has suddenly become very forgiving of the whole shambles. Methinks perhaps a little too forgiving ...

Alan Jones Show, Thursday Morning, about 8:45 ...
A caller named Ross says that Jones sounds like he is promoting the Cross City Tunnel. He asks if Jones is receiving payment from them. Jones says that some people have a bad attitude merely because some people have an alternative view, something which does not necessarily have to be bought by someone else. Jones says that he is paid by Channel Nine and Macquarie Radio (yes Jonesy, but who pays them?).

Ross says that it seems that Jones is `rolling over' for the Tunnel's management. Jones suggests Ross is not intelligent enough to understand the way the tunnel works, and he is not here to fight his batttles for him. Jones concludes by saying that 'if Ross wants to join the symphony of whingers, he is happy to give him an instrument'.

Sounds more like the ring of cash registers to me ...