HSRA - High Speed Rail

Question

1.In the 2026-27 Budget, the Government allocated a further $659.6 million over three years to the High Speed Rail Authority for development works on the Newcastle-Sydney corridor - can the Authority provide a detailed breakdown of exactly how that funding will be spent, including staffing, consultants, land acquisition, corridor preservation, legal costs and communications activities? 2.Media reports indicated that the Newcastle-Sydney line could cost up to $93 billion once extensions are included - has the Authority undertaken any independent validation of these estimates, and what is the current upper-end cost exposure to taxpayers? 3.The 300-page business case that was recently released had the cost of the project redacted. Why was this the case? Does this indicate the project is at risk of serious overruns? 4.Given the Government's recent decision to effectively abandon large sections of the Inland Rail project north of Parkes due to escalating costs, why should taxpayers have confidence that High Speed Rail will not experience similar cost blowouts and delivery failures? 5.Can you outline the parts of the Pre-Development Phase? 6.What are the costs of the additional design works? 7.How many full-time equivalent staff are currently employed by the High Speed Rail Authority, what is the total staffing budget for 2026-27, and how many external consultants and contractors are engaged across the project? 8.Can the Authority confirm whether any work associated with tunnelling, geotechnical investigations or early contractor involvement has commenced, and what has been the expenditure to date on those activities? 9.The Government has justified this project on the basis that it will generate $250 billion in economic activity and 99,000 jobs - can the Authority provide the modelling assumptions underpinning those figures and explain whether those benefits are gross or net economic impacts? 10.What is the current estimated benefit-cost ratio for the Newcastle-Sydney line, what discount rate was used, and has the Authority modelled scenarios where construction inflation, labor shortages or higher financing costs materially reduce project viability? 12.Can you provide details of all land and corridor preservation activities currently underway, including how many property owners have been contacted, whether compulsory acquisition powers may be required, and what compensation framework is being contemplated?

Answer

Please see attached PDF.

Documents

• Question with answer (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
• SQ26-000740.pdf (opens in a new tab)