SENATOR THE HON BRIDGET MCKENZIE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
LEADER OF THE NATIONALS IN THE SENATE
SENATOR FOR VICTORIA
22 April 2024
MEDIA RELEASE
ROADS TO RUIN – ALBANESE/KING FUNDING CUTS ARE HURTING MOTORISTS
The Albanese Government has cancelled, cut, and delayed more than $25 billion in infrastructure funding over its first two years in government.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie said the Albanese Government has not replaced these cuts with new projects or plans to improve the national freight network.
“Labor’s shambolic infrastructure review last year saw 50 infrastructure projects cancelled across the country followed up by ruthlessly cutting funding for more projects to the tune of $8.8 billion over the forward estimates,” Senator McKenzie said.
“Labor has chosen to use the funding ripped from the cities, suburbs and regions in need and instead use it to fund its pet projects.
“Over the past two years the only big announcements Labor has made in the infrastructure portfolio are cuts and delays to critical roads and funding for stadiums and $2.2 billion for the Suburban Rail Loop in Melbourne.”
Labor inherited from the previous Coalition a $120 billion 10-year infrastructure pipeline of projects back in March 2022. The pipeline now under Labor is only $109 billion over the next 10 years.
Senator McKenzie said the 10-year infrastructure investment pipeline of projects is shrinking before our very eyes, with the MYEFO papers showing the government’s cuts to infrastructure.
“Labor is artificially inflating the size of the pipeline by keeping on the books almost $14 billion of projects that have already been completed,” Senator McKenzie said.
“At the same time Labor is cutting infrastructure, they are increasing migration by 1.5 million people adding to the congestion challenges facing our cities and suburbs.”
“Next month’s budget needs to undo the damage that those $25 billion in cuts have done during Labor’s first two years in government,” Senator McKenzie said.
“Minister King has the opportunity now to finally do her job, to stop the cuts and delays and stand up to the Prime Minister and the Treasurer and deliver the infrastructure funding needed to cut congestion and boost national productivity.
“The Prime Minister and the Treasurer must reinvest the critical infrastructure funding that our economy, and our communities need and deserve.”
ENDS.