3 years ago
NAIF MUST FINALLY DELIVER FOR THE NORTH
Murray Watt MP
Today’s announcement about yet another “overhaul” of the Morrison Government’s failed NAIF is long-overdue.
Labor has been calling for major changes to the NAIF for three years. The Government’s refusal to listen to Labor and fix its floundering fund means that investment in Northern Australia is years behind where it should be.
It is therefore encouraging the Government has finally accepted Labor’s position that the NAIF needs major change.
This must be a turning point for what has become known as the No Actual Infrastructure Fund, after releasing only $169.2 million, or 3.4% of its $5 billion budget, since it was announced over five years ago. In five years, only $1.7 million has been released in Queensland.
Earlier this year the program had to be extended from its original five-year tenure, because at current spending rates it would take the NAIF 150 years to deliver what the Morrison Government has promised.
In the meantime, over $33 million has been spent on the NAIF’s executive and staff salaries, office space, travel for board directors, advertising and other administrative costs.
Just last week the Morrison Government’s Final Budget Outcome revealed that last financial year they underspent on road and rail projects to the tune of $1.7 billion compared to what they promised at last year’s Budget, bringing the Coalition’s total infrastructure underspend over its six budgets in office to around $6.8 billion.
What Northern Australia needs now is more than just another empty announcement from the Morrison Government. We need to see real follow through, with real changes.
We will consider the changes carefully once more detail has been announced. Any changes should be aimed at facilitating real, job-producing projects, not just pave the way for more rorts from National Party controlled funds.
The NAIF has been a great disappointment to many Australians in the north and has not delivered what was promised.
Money must get out the door immediately so that it can start turbo-charging Northern Australia’s recession recovery.
Labor has been calling for major changes to the NAIF for three years. The Government’s refusal to listen to Labor and fix its floundering fund means that investment in Northern Australia is years behind where it should be.
It is therefore encouraging the Government has finally accepted Labor’s position that the NAIF needs major change.
This must be a turning point for what has become known as the No Actual Infrastructure Fund, after releasing only $169.2 million, or 3.4% of its $5 billion budget, since it was announced over five years ago. In five years, only $1.7 million has been released in Queensland.
Earlier this year the program had to be extended from its original five-year tenure, because at current spending rates it would take the NAIF 150 years to deliver what the Morrison Government has promised.
In the meantime, over $33 million has been spent on the NAIF’s executive and staff salaries, office space, travel for board directors, advertising and other administrative costs.
Just last week the Morrison Government’s Final Budget Outcome revealed that last financial year they underspent on road and rail projects to the tune of $1.7 billion compared to what they promised at last year’s Budget, bringing the Coalition’s total infrastructure underspend over its six budgets in office to around $6.8 billion.
What Northern Australia needs now is more than just another empty announcement from the Morrison Government. We need to see real follow through, with real changes.
We will consider the changes carefully once more detail has been announced. Any changes should be aimed at facilitating real, job-producing projects, not just pave the way for more rorts from National Party controlled funds.
The NAIF has been a great disappointment to many Australians in the north and has not delivered what was promised.
Money must get out the door immediately so that it can start turbo-charging Northern Australia’s recession recovery.