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Budget 2021: Where will the $10b national infrastructure funding go?

Image by Jared Murray on Unsplash

With infrastructure projects seen as the ‘roadmap’ out of COVID-19, the much anticipated 2021-22 federal government budget is being released tomorrow, 11 of May.

The government has announced an overview of how much each state will receive of the $10 billion budget with Western Australia’s yet to be released.

“Our record funding commitment is creating jobs, boosting business investment, while securing Australia’s COVID recovery,” said Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

According to Morrison, the investments into infrastructure is aimed at making the roads safer in each state, improving public transport and reducing travel times while creating thousands of jobs.

New South Wales and South Australia are currently taking the largest portions with both expected to receive $3.02 billion each.

In NSW, $2.03 billion of this investment will go towards the Great Western Highway Upgrade with $400 million allocated to the Princes Highway Corridor. According to Morrison, these projects will support over 6,500 direct and indirect jobs across NSW.

In SA, $2.6 billion of the overall $3.02 billion investment will fund the North-South Corridor between Darlington to the Anzac Highway and $161.6 million will be put towards the Truro Bypass.

“From continuing upgrades on the North South Corridor, to delivering the roads needed for the recovery of Kangaroo Island from devastating bushfires, these projects will support more than 5,000 direct and indirect jobs across South Australia,” said Morrison.

The Truro Bypass, according to Michael McCormack, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, is a key example of the federal government’s commitment to road safety.

Victoria will take the second largest investment of $2.9 billion with a significant portion of $2 billion being invested into the new Melbourne Intermodal Terminal. $307 million will be invested towards the Pakenham Roads upgrade.

“Our $2 billion investment in a new Melbourne Intermodal Terminal will transform the way freight moves, not just in Victoria but right across the country,” said McCormack. “The new Intermodal Terminal in Melbourne will create around 1,350 jobs during peak construction and a further 550 jobs during peak operation.”

Queensland will have a total of $1.6 billion invested into the state, with $400 million invested each into the Inland Freight Route and Bruce Highway Upgrades. These projects are expected to support more than 2,800 direct and indirect jobs across Queensland, said Morrison.

According to McCormack, investments into projects like these will help support local businesses and transform the way freight is moved across Queensland.

Northern Territory will receive $323.9 million, with $217 million of this being put towards the Northern Territory Gas Industry Roads Upgrades.

“From continuing our upgrades on major highways, to improving roads which support the expansion of the Beetaloo Basin – these projects will support more than 900 direct and indirect jobs across the Territory,” said Morrison.

According to Sam McMahon, Senator for the Northern Territory, last year’s infrastructure projects benefitted regional communities, enhanced freight capacity and improved flood immunity and economic development across the top end.

Tasmania will receive $322.6 million with $80 million going towards the Tasmania Roads Package. A thousand direct and indirect jobs are expected to be created across Tasmania, said Morrison.

ACT will receive $167.3 million in funding with $25.6 million of this designated to duplicate sections of William Hovell Drive. According to Morrison, these works will support 200 direct and indirect jobs with the William Hovell Drive Duplication project expected to bust congestions for commuters.

“The substantial injection of funding delivered in this year’s budget is a key plank of the Government’s plan to help Australia bounce back stronger than ever from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Morrison.


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