NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has rubbished an offer by Julia Gillard for a $1 billion-plus down-payment to start building the western Sydney motorway network as election grandstanding by a government which "hasn't done its homework".
Mr O'Farrell said the Prime Minister's proposal, revealed in The Daily Telegraph today, could add five to eight billion dollars to the West Connex project.
"The prime minister is prepared apparently to offer a billion dollars," Mr O'Farrell said.
"A billion dollars with what is estimated to be a five to eight billion additional price tag.
"That's half a billion dollars less than what Tony Abbott's offering for the existing program."
He said the increased cost would come from the construction of additional works and removing tolls from the M4.
Mr O'Farrell revealed he had not been informed of the plan by the PM despite talking to her on Saturday about other announcements.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard arrives at the Rydges Hotel at Rosehill to attend a special dinner reserved for Labor members ahead of her long week out in the Western Suburbs. Picture: Adam Taylor
"The first I heard about today's plan was when I picked up the newspaper," he said. "This is back of the envelope stuff."
"The only plan the Prime Minister has is to try and win the September election."
Earlier, the PM's breakfast on the campaign that isn't a campaign began with a protest.
More than 30 Rooty Hill residents waved banners and electricity bills at the Novotel hotel where the PM is staying during her five day western Sydney sleepover in protest of rising power prices and the carbon tax.
"We shouldn't have to live like this," Rooty Hill locals Keith and Laura Seeley said. "Every electricity bill is a struggle."
"We don't use our freezer, we don't cook in the oven, we have to make sure to unplug everything."
The couple said they felt betrayed by Gillard.
"She made all these promises last time she was out here and not one was honoured," Ms Seeley said.
"The West Link, the carbon tax, the mining tax. She doesn't keep the promises she makes."
Protesters said they were disappointed the Prime Minister did not meet with them.
"She said she was here to talk to people," resident Tony Robinson said. "Where is she? Why did she lie?"
The protesters were joined by climate change sceptic Lord Christopher Monckton.
On Sunday night, Ms Gillard said western Sydney residents needed recognition and respect and shouldn't be viewed as second-rate, in an address to about 1000 Labor faithful.
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