The Coalition will finish the Pacific Highway - Opinion Editorial - APN Newspapers
19th September, 2012
LAST weekend I announced that the next Coalition Government will provide an extra $2.08 billion to fully-fund the completion of the Pacific Highway duplication from Sydney to the Queensland border.This commitment tops up $3.56 billion already earmarked in the 2012-13 Federal Budget and delivers a guaranteed $5.64 billion of federal government investment to complete the four-laning of the highway.
Right now there is no money available for new projects on the Pacific Highway because Minister Albanese is demanding that the federal contribution be matched 50:50 by the NSW Government – money he knows a debt-ridden NSW does not have.
He never sought 50:50 funding for the Pacific Highway when his Labor mates were in government in NSW.
The Coalition will redirect $2.08 billion from a rail project in Sydney, which the NSW Government does not plan to build. This restores funding to the traditional 80:20 federal/state national highway mix.
It delivers all of the funding needed to guarantee the Pacific Highway duplication as soon as physically possible.
It means that only the Coalition has a fully-funded plan to finish the Pacific Highway duplication. Every day that Labor remains in office is a day longer before the highway can be completed.
Communities along the NSW mid and north coast are justifiably sick and tired of the highway being used as a political football and they are fed up with promises that are not delivered.
A better road will reduce travel time and freight costs, support development and create jobs in regional NSW. Above all, it will save lives.
Today, a little over half of the highway four-laning has been completed. Under Labor’s mismanagement, the promised 2016 deadline has already been shot.
Since making the Coalition’s funding announcement, Mr Albanese has been arguing about former funding regimes going back to the days when the Pacific Highway was a state road and not part of the national highway. He still insists on a 50:50 contribution from NSW.
In the wake of our $5.64 billion commitment, all that is irrelevant.
He wants to prolong the petty politics. I want the road built.
Mr Albanese claims that only $67 million of the $2.08 billion is available. What he conveniently ignores is that this figure is based on Labor’s priorities. The Coalition’s priorities will fast-track funding.
I will ensure that the next round of AusLink, due to begin in 2014-15, releases the funds as required to get the job done.
By guaranteeing 80% of the funding, the Coalition will finish the job where Labor has failed.
Warren Truss is leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.
[ENDS]
