Department reveals the truth - Labor can’t achieve its promise on Pacific Highway
21st October, 2009
The Pacific Highway between Sydney and Brisbane will not be duplicated by 2016 as promised by the Federal Labor Government at the last election, the Shadow Transport Minister, Warren Truss, said today.The Secretary of the Infrastructure Department, Mike Mrdak, has told Senate Estimates that “it would take at least” the $6.7 billion (in 2009 dollars) the NRMA suggests is needed to complete this project.
Yet only $3.6 billion has been committed to 2014. The Federal Government is providing $3.1 billion, but the NSW Labor Government – despite having a clear funding responsibility – is only putting up $500 million.
In the lead-up to the 2007 election, Federal Labor promised to do all within its power to complete the Pacific Highway duplication by 2016.
“Instead, Federal Labor decided to allow their mates in NSW off the hook. Federal Labor has not provided sufficient money to make up the difference to keep the project on schedule,” Mr Truss said.
“Kevin Rudd and Anthony Albanese have allowed state funding to be cut to the bone and not raised more than a whimper of protest.
“The Rudd Government was going to end the ‘blame game’ – and it has, but only when it comes to its Labor mates.
“Federal Labor ministers know their fortunes are tied to the powerbrokers of NSW and have let them simply walk away from providing their share of the funds. Instead of doing everything they can to get NSW to step up, Anthony Albanese and Kevin Rudd have given them a nod and a wink.”
The Coalition made enormous strides towards duplicating the Pacific Highway, beginning in 1996 when we began to share funding responsibility with the two state governments. The problem has been NSW squibbing on its responsibility and the Rudd Government doing nothing to bring them back into line.
“In previous Senate estimates hearings, Government ministers refused to re-commit to Labor’s election promise. It has taken a public servant to reveal just how short the funding is.
“This is yet another sad example of the Rudd Government promising everything to get elected and then failing to deliver,” Mr Truss said.
