4 years ago
TUDGE MASKING FAILURE TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE
ANDREW GILES MP
The Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure, Alan Tudge, is using his latest announcement of a Population Statement as a smokescreen to mask the Morrison Government’s failure to invest in productive infrastructure around Australia.
A mature debate about population policy is a good thing, but many vital questions still need to be answered by this third-term Liberal Government.
How will this population statement support infrastructure investment that improves the liveability of our cities and increases connections with our regions?
How will this deal with settlement issues, especially given the Morrison Government won’t even release the Shergold Review into the integration, employment and settlement outcomes for refugees?
How will this make up for the disastrous impact of the Abbott Government walking away from this area, including disbanding the major cities unit and slashing funding to public transport?
Everyone understands that congestion on our roads is getting worse – commuters in Sydney are experiencing a massive 71 minute average journey to and from work each day, while Melbournians are spending an average of 65 minutes on their commute.
Infrastructure Australia predicts road congestion costs on our major cities will more than double by 2031.
While Scott Morrison spent $11.6 million on taxpayer-funded ‘congestion busting’ advertising before the election, this Government has failed to start work on one project from its Urban Congestion Fund.
The Reserve Bank Governor has called for greater investment infrastructure seven times since the election. Mr Lowe has called for ‘full employment’ to generate wages growth for workers, but the Morrison Government has no real plan for infrastructure or to achieve full employment.
The Australian people want a real plan for infrastructure.
The Morrison Government must get on with the job of investing in Australia’s infrastructure, tackling congestion and creating jobs.
A mature debate about population policy is a good thing, but many vital questions still need to be answered by this third-term Liberal Government.
How will this population statement support infrastructure investment that improves the liveability of our cities and increases connections with our regions?
How will this deal with settlement issues, especially given the Morrison Government won’t even release the Shergold Review into the integration, employment and settlement outcomes for refugees?
How will this make up for the disastrous impact of the Abbott Government walking away from this area, including disbanding the major cities unit and slashing funding to public transport?
Everyone understands that congestion on our roads is getting worse – commuters in Sydney are experiencing a massive 71 minute average journey to and from work each day, while Melbournians are spending an average of 65 minutes on their commute.
Infrastructure Australia predicts road congestion costs on our major cities will more than double by 2031.
While Scott Morrison spent $11.6 million on taxpayer-funded ‘congestion busting’ advertising before the election, this Government has failed to start work on one project from its Urban Congestion Fund.
The Reserve Bank Governor has called for greater investment infrastructure seven times since the election. Mr Lowe has called for ‘full employment’ to generate wages growth for workers, but the Morrison Government has no real plan for infrastructure or to achieve full employment.
The Australian people want a real plan for infrastructure.
The Morrison Government must get on with the job of investing in Australia’s infrastructure, tackling congestion and creating jobs.