[ABC] Vic seeks 25pc of Building Australia fund

bevans · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 11:43 am

The Victorian Government says it wants at least a quarter share of the Federal Government's new Building Australia infrastructure fund.

A deal struck yesterday between the Commonwealth and the states will see $20 billion in federal cash allocated to infrastructure projects across the country.

A list of key projects will be drawn up by the end of the year.

State Roads Minister Tim Pallas says Victoria needs greater federal funding for road and public transport projects than other parts of the country.

"In terms of the Building Australia Fund, if this plan is all about dealing with urban congestion, then Melbourne and Sydney and to a lesser extent Brisbane, have to be the key focus of interest and activity," he said.

"For too long Victorians have received less than their fare share when it comes to federal road allocations."

Federal opposition

Federal Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has labelled the venture a "slush fund" and has expressed concern the money will be used to bail out failing state Labor governments.

But federal Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese says the Government is at arm's length from the process and all projects will be decided on their merits.

"The Opposition should get out of the way and support Labor's agenda," he said.

"The fact is they had nothing to say about infrastructure for 12 long years.

"Now that the Commonwealth is getting on with the business of nation building, doing it in a rigorous way, they are sniping at the sidelines."

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the projects hinge on the Opposition being responsible in the Senate, and says they should act responsibly and support the move.

"Up until now they've opposed it," he said.

"They've shouted their opposition to this on the floor of the House of Representatives, said all sorts of negative things about it.

"I think they are radically out of step with the mood of the Australian nation and the needs of the Australian economy."

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"Victoria, the home of world class project blowouts and overruns" Mr. Bachelor, hang your head in Shame!

409 · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 4:40 pm

Compared to South Australia for the past 25 or so years, Victoria has had it easy. The very least I would like to see spent over here is around $1.5billion from Federal funds. In addition to numerous highway upgrade projects, we would be able to build an extension of the Noarlunga Centre line to Seaford as well as helping get the Mt Gambier line running to a decent standard!

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cootanee · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 8:51 am

No needs to guess where the money will go - just list all new roads and railways >$100m built in the last 10 years.

There is a real disconnect in government when they purport to want to improve efficiency, reduce congestion and green house emissions and seem to always come up with new. bigger roads. Shocked

ButFli · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 1:52 pm

Roads win votes. There aren't many people who drive a train to work.

GeoffreyHansen · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 3:08 pm

I can see the states fighting over money already.

Bring the 3900s back to Brisbane
Bring Karlsruhe Tramtrains to Australian cities
Extend the proposed Metro to Taylor Square
Extend the Gold Coast line to the Tweed

witsend · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 4:03 pm

Again, all states will complain that they don't get their fair share of road funding. What terms define fair share? Size of road network? Population Base? Number of Road Train routes? Alternative Freight Routes? Export/Growth Potential? Number of Fatality Posts on the side of the road? Litres of White Paint Use for line-marking? Number of endangered species as potential roadkill? Number of speed humps or roundabouts per head of population? For each scenario, it doesn't matter how it will pan out, you could argue that each state doesn't get its fair share.

SA/WA/NT has less MPs combined in the lower house than NSW, therefore we are less represented. The saving grace is that the Senate allocated 6 Senators per state (2 per territory) irrespective of size.

What I sincerely hope is that the building Australia fund submissions are assessed on merit, and not just a bailout for inadequate investment by successive state governments (liberal/labor).

Regards,

Samuel Wittwer
Member - LC of Yorke Peninusula Rail

Zen Dave · Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 8:36 am

witsend · Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 8:56 am

You're right. 12 Senators represent each state, with two for each for the ACT and NT. 6 Senators are elected each time an election is called, unless it is a double dissolution.

Regards,

Samuel Wittwer
Member - LC of Yorke Peninusula Rail