While this tosh rages on, among the privileged and the petulant in NSW, there are other states and regions in Australia who have crap public transport or none at all.

Albanese proposes a very costly fast train between Sydney and Newcastle. Probably thinks this is a vote catcher in those areas. Meanwhile, has just suspended work on the Inland Rail direct standard gauge link between Melbourne and Brisbane. Which should be good value for money with improved freight capabilities despite cost blowouts. So far has been largely just upgrades of existing tracks. The only completely new section within the southern half from Beveridge just north of Melbourne to Parkes, where freight can be transferred to the line from Sydney to Perth is from Illabo to Stockinbingal. Which is shorter than from the main Sydney line via Cootamundra. It also bypasses the uphill climb past Bethungra, where the northbound track route is about 2.5 km longer via the Bethungra Spiral to reduce the grade. Meanwhile re the Sydney-Newcastle rail link, maybe those familiar with it could comment on if /how it could be relatively cheaply improved to reduce passenger train travel times. I gather steam locomotive 3801 set a record of 2 hours one and a half minutes in 1964 which stood for many years. Not sure if /when this has been beaten but it possibly could by the same engine, which is still around if track has been significantly upgraded since then.