Parliament delays rail findings

A parliamentary committee has delayed tabling its inquiry the controversial lease and management of WA's freight rail network.

The Economic and Industry Standing Committee was had been due to table the report in State Parliament today.

Committee chairman Ian Blayney said the report would now be tabled on October 16.

The committee launched the inquiry in March this year and will report on whether current lease arrangements and management facilitate or hamper State development.

Its inquiry will consider the decision by leaseholder Brookfield Rail to close all Tier 3 lines, as part of the powerful committee's terms of reference.

All Tier 3 lines closed on June 30.

"Understanding the lease complexity and the way it has been managed since it came into being has been a long process for the committee," he told Countryman.

"Dealing with CBH, Brookfield and Economic Regulation Authority has been complicated because each time you talk to one, you end up with more questions for the others."

Mr Blayney said the committee regretted the need to delay releasing the report findings.

"But at the same time the job had to been done properly and everything compiled in the report has to be checked," he said.

Mr Blayney said the committee was yet to decide if it would release the confidential State Government lease with Brookfield.

"If the committee determines it would be procedurally fair to table the lease as a result of the report findings, it would be up to the leaseholders to show sufficient reason why it would not be fair," Mr Blayney said.

Brookfield has 49-year confidential lease with the State Government for the entire WA freight rail network.