Zoe McKenzie MP
Federal Member for Flinders
Senator the Hon. Bridget McKenzie
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
Leaders of The Nationals in the Senate
13 October 2022
INFRASTRUCTURE MUST BE A PRIORITY IN THE ALBANESE GOVERNMENT’S OCTOBER BUDGET
Billions of dollars in priority road and rail funding are in doubt as Labor’s October Budget looms.
The Coalition’s 10-year infrastructure investment pipeline of $120 billion in this year’s budget included an additional $17.9 billion to priority road and rail projects.
Over $320 million in funding for the seat of Flinders alone remain in doubt, with Labor yet to confirm if funding will be cut. This includes:
- $75 million for pedestrian upgrades, sound mitigation and the construction of an overpass at Jetty Road on the Mornington Peninsula Freeway in Rosebud
- $225 million for the electrification and duplication of the Stony Point rail line from Frankston to Baxter, and
- $20.5 million for intersection upgrades on the Nepean Highway at the Forest Drive and Uralla Road intersections in Mount Martha.
Coalition MPs across Australia fear infrastructure and community building projects that their Electorates desperately need will not be a priority in Albanese’s Budget.
Federal Member for Flinders, Zoe McKenzie, called on the Albanese Government not to cut funding for Mornington Peninsula Infrastructure.
“One of my first acts after being sworn into Parliament was to write to Prime Minister Albanese, calling for funding for these projects to be maintained,” Ms McKenzie said.
“While I have received responses from other members of the Ministry, none have confirmed the status of key infrastructure projects in my electorate.”
“These are projects that the local community has advocated for over many years, with funding already budgeted for their construction.”
“The Labor party had an entire election campaign to say if funding would be in jeopardy and said nothing. Removing funding now would be a betrayal of my community by the Albanese Government and one we will not forget.”
“I call on the Government to confirm that this funding will stay and that they will work with the Victorian Government to ensure these projects completion on time and on budget.”
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure Transport and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie has said there are grave concerns that many vital infrastructure projects that would support jobs, increase the efficiency and capacity of the National freight industry are at risk of being axed in the Albanese Government’s Budget.
“The Coalition Government presented a Budget in March that was packed with infrastructure investment for priority road and rail projects that would not only strengthen the economy but get Australians home to their loved ones sooner and safer.”
The Coalition Government invested heavily in infrastructure since 2013 which resulted in 35,000 infrastructure projects delivered and 120,000 jobs created Another 40,000 jobs were expected to be supported over the lives of the projects planned in the March Budget.
This nation building investment included $3.1 billion for Melbourne Intermodal Terminals and related infrastructure, $3.7 billion for faster rail projects in NSW and QLD to better connect cities to our growing regions, and over $500 million for local councils to maintain and deliver on priority road and infrastructure projects across Australia.
“Labor refuses to guaranteeing fund the Intermodal Terminals and, as we know, they clearly don’t care about our regions,” Senator McKenzie said.
Concerns are mounting that investment into these vital nation building projects will be slashed in the Albanese Government’s Budget.”
-ENDS-
