South Australia has been showered with about $1 billion a year in Federal Government transport infrastructure spending over the forward estimates, supporting a massive pipeline of job-creating projects over the next four years and beyond.
Treasurer Rob Lucas welcomed the 'significant jobs windfall' for SA in last night's Federal Budget 2021-22, which will provide funding for major projects such as the final stage of the North-South Corridor project, the Augusta Highway Duplication ($148m), the Truro Bypass ($161.6m) and additional funding for the Heysen Tunnels upgrade ($48m).
"Contrary to Labor's alarmist and misleading claims that somehow SA has been short-changed in this Budget, the truth is we are receiving about $1 billion each year in Federal funding for significant job-creating transport infrastructure projects right across the state," said Mr Lucas.
"This includes both new and existing Federal funding and will create a huge pipeline of work that will support thousands of local jobs over at least the next four years. This is critical to support our strong ongoing economic and jobs recovery from COVID-19, not just a short-term stimulus spike.
"The Federal Budget 2021-22 delivers an average $979 million each year over the forward estimates, which is more than double the average $465 million a year achieved in the final year of the former Labor government (Federal Budget 2017-18).
Mr Lucas said the Marshall Liberal Government's sensible working relationship with the Federal Government had resulted in huge gains for South Australia.
"The reality is Labor was lazy and incompetent – they hadn't even completed a business case for the final, most difficult stage of the North-South Corridor project when we came to Government, yet they're bleating about it not happening fast enough!" said Mr Lucas.
Estimated Federal Government transport infrastructure spending, Federal Budget 2021-22:
2021-22 |
2022-23 |
2023-24 |
2024-25 |
$786.48m |
$954.2m |
$1.108b |
$1.071b |
