<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A major part of a grand and costly infrastructure project in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/new-south-wales" rel="" target="_blank" title="eastern Australia "><span>eastern Australia</span></a><span> has today been scrapped over a $45 billion cost blowout.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The fate of Inland Rail was sealed after a new independent review found construction of the link between Melbourne and Brisbane would balloon by about 450 per cent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the rail link would now end at Parkes in central NSW, about halfway to Brisbane, to save taxpayers' money.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-may-6-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/f734aa28-08d0-4969-92ed-dcad5d03ad31" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trump halts 'Project Freedom' hours after it was announced</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The 2023 independent review found major deficiencies in the governance and delivery of Inland Rail by the Liberals and Nationals," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are taking sensible decisions to realign the future of Inland Rail and build a safe, efficient and reliable network for the future."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Inland Rail has long been championed by former Coalition deputy prime minister and current One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/inland-rail-project-put-on-hold-over-45-billion-blowout/a18fd03b-851a-44df-812b-e77f0bd7a3fc" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Speaking on Sky News today, he condemned the federal government's decision, saying it made no sense during the current fuel crisis.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If diesel engines attached to prime movers pulling your groceries shut down … we actually have an alternative, but they decided to shut that - it's just beyond belief.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/kumanjayi-little-baby-comedian-alex-shooter-williamson-condemned-for-social-media-video-about-allegedly-murdered-nt-girl/6767e589-5f72-4731-acf9-4f82ad655ca1" target="_blank"><strong><span>Comedian blasted for 'deeply offensive' joke about allegedly murdered NT girl</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These are real assets that are doing a job, and it's been canned by a government that has no belief in regional areas whatsoever."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The peak farming body in NSW has also slammed the government's decision and questioned whether the minister knew the furthest point of the rail lines.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said his organisation backed Inland Rail because moving freight more efficiently mattered to farm businesses and regional communities.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But governments can't ask rural and regional communities to carry the burden of disruptive construction, then just change direction without accountability," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If Inland Rail is being 'refocused', then fairness for landholders, clarity for affected businesses and genuine freight capacity upgrades must be the non-negotiables."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/gold-coast-toddler-induced-coma-inhaling-cake-decorating-dust/778d019e-740e-4b31-a71d-9ffe2fe7c800" target="_blank"><strong><span>Aussie toddler in coma after inhaling cake-decorating dust</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Martin questioned whether King was aware of already-constructed sections to Narromine, and between Narromine and North Star on the NSW-Queensland border.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Farmers and communities along the northern part of the corridor were still facing significant challenges in getting produce to market.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The federal government will preserve the remainder of the rail corridor to Brisbane in case a future government restarts the project.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>To improve existing rail freight services, the Australian Rail Track Corporation will receive an extra $1.75 billion.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span></span><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>