(1) Did he issue a media release dated 24 May 2000 titled Sale of National Rail Corporation to Proceed Shortly.

(2) What is the timeframe for proceeding with the sale.

(3) What are the sale management arrangements agreed between the shareholders to govern the terms of the sale process.

(4) Will the sale arrangements be released to the public.

(5) Will the process be an open tender process and who will make the decision on the preferred buyer.

(6) Will public sector rail organisations be permitted to bid to purchase National Rail in their own right or as part of a consortia; if not, why not.

(1) Yes

(2) The sales management process has commenced. Expressions of Interest will be called for shortly and the sale is expected to be finalised by the middle of 2001.

(3) The sale management arrangements under which the sale will be managed and proceed are set out in a Sale Management Agreement, agreed to by all shareholders.

(4) No

(5) Yes, the sale process will be an open tender process. Decisions on the preferred buyer will be made by shareholder Ministers representing the Commonwealth, NSW and Victoria.

(6) No. It is considered that greater private sector investment and participation is essential to increasing the competitiveness of the rail industry. Recent reports into the rail industry, such as the Smorgon Report and Productivity Commission Report, Progress in Rail Reform, support the view that the interests of the rail industry would be best served by the sale of above-rail freight operators to private sector bidders.