Nationals MP Mark Coulton and senator Bridget McKenzie have angrily rejected suggestions they may have trespassed by visiting the inland rail project near Narromine after permission to do so was denied.
Coulton told Guardian Australia that the issue, pursued by Labor in Senate estimates, was “absolute complete bullshit”, backing McKenzie’s account the pair were at a level crossing on a public road when they visited the rail without the minister’s permission.
An Australian Rail Track Corporation representative said it was “looking into the circumstances” of a photo and video of McKenzie and Coulton posted to social media on 27 April, which appears to show the pair within the 15m exclusion zone of the track.
In April the infrastructure minister, Catherine King, guaranteed the federal government would complete the project as far as Parkes, but the Nationals are concerned about a lack of commitment to sections farther north, including Narromine to Narrabri.
When McKenzie raised the issue in Senate estimates on 23 May, the Labor senator Linda White began to ask ARTC officials about its policies on “trespass”, a word she used 12 times, querying whether its policies would “cover off politicians wandering on to rail corridors and infrastructure”.
White clarified: “I have not accused [McKenzie] of anything.”
The ARTC’s policy states that “trespassing involves unlawfully entering land which is privately or publicly owned by the rail operator”.
“It is illegal to enter the railway corridor unless you are walking or driving across a level crossing.”
McKenzie noted that she had “sought permission” to attend the inland rail with Coulton, but it was “denied” by the minister.
Rebecca Pickering, acting chief executive of Inland Rail, told estimates she had become aware of the visit “after the fact” from Coulton’s Facebook post, which White tabled.
McKenzie made light of the situation, saying Coulton and she had “a great week” and joking that “they’ve tried to put me in jail before”.
McKenzie said the photo was taken on a “public road”, rejecting the suggestion she was “a trespasser”.
McKenzie criticised King’s decision, saying that “local members no longer have access to a key infrastructure project running through their own communities”, and explaining the purpose of the visit was to “check out what the Labor party is now delivering”.
“We were actually standing on a public road, Narwonah Road, when this photo was taken … I’m with the local member at a level crossing on the fabulous inland rail project.
“The defence rests.”
Coulton told Guardian Australia that Labor was “trying to ping a local member for doing his job”. “You could see 2km either way, the idea it was dangerous is just a nonsense.
“[McKenzie] is the shadow infrastructure minister, there is a cloud over the inland rail project. I wanted her to get an understanding of where it was going.”
A spokesperson for ARTC said it was aware of the photo and video and was “looking into the circumstances”.
“ARTC takes the safety of people both in and around our rail corridors seriously and encourages all people to be aware of the potential dangers near rail tracks.”
A spokeswoman for King said her office “was advised by ARTC on 2 May, 2023 of a post on social media where Senator McKenzie and Mark Coulton appeared to be standing on the inland rail line”.
“During Senate estimates, ARTC provided evidence that they were looking into the matter further.
“Rail safety is a serious matter, individuals caught trespassing can face significant consequences, including fines of up to $5,000.”
McKenzie told Guardian Australia “the inland rail is already delivering significant benefits to local communities and it was an absolute pleasure to see that first-hand with the local member”. “I would encourage the minister responsible to do the same.”
NSW police said they had not received a complaint or referral about the matter.
