3 years ago
2021 INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITY LIST
CATHERINE KING MP
Labor welcomes the release of Infrastructure Australia’s 2021 Priority List.
Infrastructure Australia is Australia’s pre-eminent infrastructure advisor, designed by a Labor government to take infrastructure investment out of the day-to-day political cycle and develop long term priorities.
With COVID-19 reshaping Australians’ lives and driving a record increase in regional migration, the importance of listening to expert advice has never been more important.
Unfortunately, Infrastructure Australia has been continually sidelined and undermined by a Morrison Government more interested in the political benefits of infrastructure spending than making investments that grow Australia’s economy and increase productivity.
Just last December the Morrison Government further cut Infrastructure Australia out of the decision making process by increasing the threshold where the independent body evaluates project proposals from $100m to $250m.
If there’s one thing the Morrison Government hates, it is scrutiny.
The Morrison Government’s politically guided approach has been a resounding failure. Instead of methodically investing in Australia’s infrastructure needs, Scott Morrison has over-promised and under-delivered on transport infrastructure by an average of $1.2 billion every year and left important, priority projects like High Speed Rail to gather dust.
While High Speed Rail won’t be completed anytime soon, the time to begin route planning and land acquisitions is now.
That is what Infrastructure Australia says, it is time for the Prime Minister to pay attention.
The Morrison Government should be guided in its infrastructure investments by this list, it would deliver a far better outcome for Australia than funnelling more money into sport rorts, dodgy Western Sydney Airport land deals, undeliverable commuter car parks, politically chosen roundabouts and countless other scandals.
Infrastructure Australia is Australia’s pre-eminent infrastructure advisor, designed by a Labor government to take infrastructure investment out of the day-to-day political cycle and develop long term priorities.
With COVID-19 reshaping Australians’ lives and driving a record increase in regional migration, the importance of listening to expert advice has never been more important.
Unfortunately, Infrastructure Australia has been continually sidelined and undermined by a Morrison Government more interested in the political benefits of infrastructure spending than making investments that grow Australia’s economy and increase productivity.
Just last December the Morrison Government further cut Infrastructure Australia out of the decision making process by increasing the threshold where the independent body evaluates project proposals from $100m to $250m.
If there’s one thing the Morrison Government hates, it is scrutiny.
The Morrison Government’s politically guided approach has been a resounding failure. Instead of methodically investing in Australia’s infrastructure needs, Scott Morrison has over-promised and under-delivered on transport infrastructure by an average of $1.2 billion every year and left important, priority projects like High Speed Rail to gather dust.
While High Speed Rail won’t be completed anytime soon, the time to begin route planning and land acquisitions is now.
That is what Infrastructure Australia says, it is time for the Prime Minister to pay attention.
The Morrison Government should be guided in its infrastructure investments by this list, it would deliver a far better outcome for Australia than funnelling more money into sport rorts, dodgy Western Sydney Airport land deals, undeliverable commuter car parks, politically chosen roundabouts and countless other scandals.