SENATOR THE HON BRIDGET MCKENZIE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
LEADER OF THE NATIONALS IN THE SENATE
SENATOR JACINTA NAMPIJINPA PRICE
SENATOR FOR THE NORTHERN TERRITORY
LIA FINOCCHIARO MLA
LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY
GERARD MALEY MLA
DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, PLANNING AND LOGISTICS
21 May 2024
MEDIA RELEASE
ALBANESE’S BUDGET MAKES 40% CUT TO TOP END ROADS
The Albanese Government slashed Northern Territory road funding by 40 per cent in last week’s Federal budget despite a dangerous roads and a pothole crisis on roads across the Top End.
Detailed analysis of the Commonwealth Budget Papers show Labor has taken the axe to Territory road funding, ripping almost $250 million from the territory over two years.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie said the condition of roads in the Territory is at a deplorable state and Labor is making the problem worse by cutting funding.
“The Prime Minister is out of touch with the needs of hard-working Australians if he thinks the solution to potholed and deteriorating roads is to cut infrastructure funding.”
“The Northern Territory is suffering and going without just to help Treasurer Jim Chalmers improve budget bottom line in Canberra,” Senator McKenzie said.
Leader of the Opposition in the Northern Territory, Lia Finocchiaro said there is so much potential in Darwin and across the Territory to add to Australia’s economy, but it will never be realised if the roads are not fit to carry freight.
“We want the Territory to be an attractive place that tourists want to visit, and families want to stay, but that won’t happen if the roads are too unsafe and supply chains are continuously cut off,” Mrs Finocchiaro said.
Senator Nampijinpa Price said the Prime Minister has been falling over himself in the rush to bail out struggling Labor states in Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia, but the Territory is left to fend for itself.
“In the space of just five months Federal Labor has cut Territory road funding by $83.5 million this year and by a further $164.3 million for the year starting on 1 July.
“The Prime Minister should come to the Territory for more than a few hours on the way to the tennis, and drive on our roads and experience for himself what the community is having to endure,” Senator Nampijinpa Price said.
Deputy Leader of the NT Opposition, Gerard Maley said Territory and Federal Labor are failing the Top End when it comes to investing in roads and infrastructure.
“Our roads are unsafe and sadly we are seeing the consequences of Labor’s neglect with a skyrocketing road toll with 46 fatalities in the past 12 months, a 35% increase on the previous year, the highest in the country.
“It is time for the NT Labor Government to fix the potholes and end the carnage on our roads and highways,” Mr Maley said.
Labor’s cuts to Northern Territory Road Funding in the 2024-25 Budget
2023-24 | 2024-25 | Total (2 years) | |
MYEFO 2023 | 374.4 | 409.0 | 783.4 |
Budget 2024-25 | 290.9 | 244.7 | 535.6 |
Difference ($m) | -83.5 | -164.3 | -247.8 |
Reduction (%) | 22.3% | 40% | 31.4% |
Source: Budget 2023-24 MYEFO 2023-24, Appendix C: Annex A, page 32-34; Budget 2024-25 Budget Paper 3, page 71.