Consultant firms were paid almost $180 million to estimate the bloated Inland Rail budget, while a departing executive got $317,000 soon before half the freight route was scrapped.
The federal government shelved the Inland Rail route north of Parkes, in central NSW, in early May, amid a budget blow-out of at least $45.6 billion.
That was nearly 10 times the estimated cost put forward in 2015 for the rail corridor, which was originally intended to connect Melbourne and Brisbane.
A budget estimates hearing on Tuesday night was told of generous packages paid to Inland Rail executives, including $317,000 to Nick Miller upon his departure as chief executive in mid-2025.
Taxpayers also footed a bill of more than $179 million over three years for consultants investigating the cost and economics of the project.
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