Kennett says the tollway bosses have mastered the art of out-manoeuvring governments, citing the current negotiations with the Andrews Labor government in Victoria over the $5.5 billion Western Distributor, the proposed second route in and out of Melbourne's west.
"Money, instead of going to government, is going to the private sector; that is a total waste," Kennett says.
It is a reputation boosted by advantageous deals done in particular with the Bracks Labor government through the 2000s. Particularly notable was the scrapping of part of the original CityLink deal stipulating that the pioneering tolling technology was only to be used on CityLink.
To get the government to agree to dump the clause, there was a polite suggestion by Transurban that it would effectively abandon Victoria by establishing a new company in Sydney. The government folded. It was a pivotal moment in the company's history. Freedom to use its tolling technology beyond CityLink triggered rapid expansion interstate and internationally, adding billions of dollars to its value.
In return the Bracks government settled for a one-off payment of $10 million.
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