POLICE dragged residents out of a Sydney Park protest camp at 3am today so WestCONnex contractors working for the private Sydney Motorway Corporation (SMC) could set up a construction site, and begin work to destroy thousands of trees in the park.

In April 2016, WestCONnex Action Group joined forces with Victoria's Yarra Campaign for Action on Transport and WA's Rethink the Link to make a submission to the Senate Committee on the establishment of a National Integrity Commission. We supported it on the basis that a federal anti-corruption body would be well-placed to investigate issues related to WestCONnex, the East West Link and Perth Freight Link. This was our joint cover letter.

A PEACEFUL protest against drilling works for the unapproved WestCONnex New M5 came to an abrupt end today after riot police were called in to Alfred St, St Peters.

Pauline Lockie from WestCONnex Action Group speaks to 2RRR's RadioActive about WestCONnex. Topics covered include major WestCONnex contractors Leighton and Samsung being named in a global corruption scandal, protests against drilling works on the unapproved New M5, and deeper issues around WestCONnex's lack of transparency and corrupted planning processes.

DRILLING for the WestCONnex New M5 was stopped today following reports that two of the project’s major contractors, Leighton and Samsung, used corrupt practices to secure billion-dollar government contracts overseas.

WESTCONNEX Action Group has renewed its call for a public inquiry into the $16.8 billion WestCONnex toll road after two of its main contractors, Leighton Holdings (CIMIC) and Samsung, were reported to have used corrupt practices to secure billion-dollar government contracts overseas.

WAG objects to both the failure of WestConnex to meet its stated core objectives and the manner in which these objectives were formulated.

WAG objects to the lack of transparency and proper process that has characterised the WestConnex project since its inception, and continues to do so with the New M5.

WAG strongly objects to the fact that AECOM, the company contracted to compile this EIS, has deep interests in the planning and construction of the $16.8 billion motorway project, raising questions about the independence and integrity of the planning assessment process.