Sir,

The oppositions misleading comments about country NSW's share of road funding cannot go uncorrected (Southern Highland News, 19 February 2003).

In fact the Carr Government does spend more than 60 per cent of the roads maintenance and capital works budget in rural and regional NSW.

While making these claims the opposition has not said what it would do to improve the road network above what the Labor Government has achieved.

Ms Seaton failed to confess that a Liberal-National coalition has promised to reverse the toll rise on the Harbour Bridge if elected, thus stripping this sum from the roads budget.

She has also failed to mention how a Coalition Government will fund a $900 million tunnel under the Spit Bridge without taking money from the country roads budget.

Carl Scully

Minister for Transport

Minister for Roads