Anne Stanley MP, Federal Member for Werriwa, and Anoulack Chanthivong MP, State Member for Macquarie Fields, have labelled the lack of accessibility at Macquarie Fields Station shameful and said they would continue their fight for a lift to ensure the station was accessible to all. 

The MPs shared their frustration and dismay with local residents after the Liberal Government once again ignored the urgent need for lifts at Macquarie Fields Station and allocated zero dollars in the 2020-21 NSW Budget. 

The Liberal Government has also blatantly politicised station upgrades. Hawkesbury River Station, in a Liberal-held seat, is being upgraded despite data showing a greater need for a lift and higher patronage at Macquarie Fields Station.

Based on the latest available data, there are 7607 weekly Opal trips at Macquarie Fields Station, compared with 861 at Hawkesbury River Station.

“Our community is repeatedly overlooked when it comes to fair access to railway stations,” Mr Chanthivong said.

“It is time to stop the spin and fund lifts at Macquarie Fields Station as a matter of priority.

“It is shameful that in 2020 a major suburban train station on the Airport line has no lift and no wheelchair access – just a towering stairway with more than 70 steps.

“It is unacceptable that frail and elderly, parents with prams, people with disability and travellers with luggage are unable to use this station without a lift.  Where’s our fair share?

“Now is the time to end the Liberal Government’s neglect of south-west Sydney, stop the spin and fund the upgrade of Macquarie Fields Station to ensure fair access for all.”

The Liberal Government has consistently failed to abide by its own guidelines and assessment process. Under its Transport Access Program, Macquarie Fields Station has a ‘need rank’ of 34. Yet station upgrades are already underway for Beecroft Station ranked 36 and Clarendon Station ranked 45 – both in Liberal-held seats.

“To ignore its own transport data and engage in blatant pork-barrelling is simply wrong,” Anne Stanley MP said. 

“There are too many stories of the elderly or people with disability having to bypass Macquarie Fields Station to catch a train and this is incredibly unfair.

“We continue to call on the Liberal Government to fund lifts and make Macquarie Fields Station accessible for all. We won’t give up the fight until we have our fair share,” Ms Stanley added.