3 years ago
MORE “NO ACTUAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS” FOR THE NORTH
Murray Watt MP
The Morrison Government has unveiled its plan for economic recovery in Northern Australia - a five year extension of its failed NAIF, better known as the No Actual Infrastructure Fund.
Labor supports the NAIF and we welcome news that the NAIF’s funds will still be available for investment.
But at its current rate of spending, it will take nearly 200 years - not just five - for the Government to spend the NAIF’s $5 billion.
Given the NAIF’s track record, Northern Australians are right to be sceptical about today’s announcement.
The Government must explain why the next five years will be different to the last.
When the NAIF was announced five years ago, the Federal Government promised to invest $5 billion in projects for Northern Australia.
But the latest figures* released by the NAIF show that less than 3 per cent of that money, $130 million, has actually got out the door. Less than $2 million has been released in Queensland.
The Morrison Government is famous for announcements and slogans that never get delivered. The north can’t afford for the NAIF to be yet another example of this.
The Government must ensure that this program delivers real jobs for the north, not just more lip-service.
The north needs the Morrison Government’s help now, not just more empty promises that don’t get delivered.
* Senate Question on Notice 1440 to Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia
Labor supports the NAIF and we welcome news that the NAIF’s funds will still be available for investment.
But at its current rate of spending, it will take nearly 200 years - not just five - for the Government to spend the NAIF’s $5 billion.
Given the NAIF’s track record, Northern Australians are right to be sceptical about today’s announcement.
The Government must explain why the next five years will be different to the last.
When the NAIF was announced five years ago, the Federal Government promised to invest $5 billion in projects for Northern Australia.
But the latest figures* released by the NAIF show that less than 3 per cent of that money, $130 million, has actually got out the door. Less than $2 million has been released in Queensland.
The Morrison Government is famous for announcements and slogans that never get delivered. The north can’t afford for the NAIF to be yet another example of this.
The Government must ensure that this program delivers real jobs for the north, not just more lip-service.
The north needs the Morrison Government’s help now, not just more empty promises that don’t get delivered.
* Senate Question on Notice 1440 to Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia