The Turnbull Government last night confirmed that it’s dudding Victoria when it comes to funding vital infrastructure in our state.
Giving testimony at a Senate Committee last night, the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development confirmed that the Commonwealth would invest only $2.045 billion on Victorian infrastructure between 2016-17 and 2019-20 out of a national program worth $26.5 billion.
That equates to 7.7 per cent for Victoria, despite our state being home to 25 per cent of the nation’s population.
In stark contrast, the Prime Minister’s home state of NSW is set to receive more than 30 per cent, and Queensland will receive 29 per cent.
It’s time the Sydney-centric Malcolm Turnbull stopped dudding Victorians.
Victoria has one of the strongest infrastructure pipelines in the country, with the Andrews Labor Government set to spend an annual average of $8.4 billion on infrastructure over the next four years – well up from the average over the last ten years of $4.9 billion.
Quotes attributable to Treasurer Tim Pallas
“We have been saying for years that the Turnbull Government is dudding Victoria and now they have confirmed it.”
“It is disgraceful that Malcolm Turnbull is denying hard working Victorians their fair share, while at the same time pumping infrastructure funding into his home state of New South Wales.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan
“This is just further proof that Malcolm Turnbull is more interested in taking selfies on public transport than funding it.”
“While Mr Turnbull plays politics, we’re getting on with building the Metro Tunnel, removing 50 of our most dangerous and congested level crossings, and delivering the other major upgrades passengers need.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan
“This is yet more confirmation that Malcolm Turnbull is the Prime Minister for Sydney. We’ve fully funded the Western Distributor to create thousands of jobs and take thousands of trucks of the streets of Melbourne’s west.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020