Matt Williams (Hindmarsh, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) commends the Government on the establishment of an Infrastructure Growth Package (IGP) that will fast track investment in critical infrastructure across the country;

(2) notes that:

(a) funds will be targeted at projects that grow the economy, boost productivity and create jobs;

(b) the fund includes $5 billion over five years towards the Asset Recycling Initiative which will encourage the states and territories to sell assets and recycle the sale proceeds into new productivity-enhancing infrastructure, and

(c) the fund also includes $3.7 billion for targeted infrastructure investments to delivery priority infrastructure projects and upgrades across the country;

(3) acknowledges the IGP builds on the Government's existing commitment, now at more than $50 billion, to fund key road, rail and intermodal projects; and

(4) recognises the IGP as part of the Government's Economic Action Strategy to build a strong, prosperous economy for a safe and secure Australia.

Australia's infrastructure deficiencies have been talked about for a long time. There have been numerous reports by consultants and by governments at the state and federal levels. We have taken the bold decision to do something about it in significant terms. The challenges we face include not just an ageing population and increased expenditure commitments over the next 10 years but also a population set to grow to 38 million and our cities to almost double in size by 2050 and freight to almost double by 2030. These are some of the parameters we have to work within. We have a major infrastructure challenge and also a productivity challenge that we have heard a lot of debate, comments and reports about. We are taking up these challenges on both fronts. In this budget we are all contributing to make a better future for Australia. As the Treasurer said:

We are not going to pass the buck to another generation. We must move now to shape our destiny. We inherited an economy with below-trend growth; we inherited an economy with rising unemployment, with falling terms of trade.

Despite this, we are putting in a series of economic measures to build a better Australia.

The Infrastructure Growth Package is one of those key measures to grow the economy, ensuring that Australia can return to trend growth levels as soon as possible. The key component to lifting productivity growth in our budget is through an investment in productive infrastructure--$50 billion, a record amount spent on productive infrastructure. This is an additional $16 billion more than what Labor would have delivered if they were re-elected, and I will be interested in hearing what the members opposite say when their turn comes to speak on this significant package. This funding forms part of the government's economic action strategy to build a strong, prosperous economy, raise productivity and create thousands of new jobs.

The government's investment in infrastructure will also leverage greater co-contributions from state governments and the private sector. This innovative asset recycling program will free up billions of extra dollars. We are already seeing state governments look at their infrastructure assets in a different light. The growth package includes $11.6 billion in infrastructure growth and fast-tracks investments in critical infrastructure across the country. There is $5 billion over five years in the asset recycling initiative. There is $2.9 billion in Western Sydney to support the new Western Sydney airport, which I am sure my colleague here, the member for Reid, will speak about. There is $3.7 billion for targeted infrastructure investments to deliver priority infrastructure projects and upgrades, including the first ever concessional loan in Australia to accelerate WestConnex stage 2 in Sydney so it can be built at the same time as stage 1.

There is other funding like the East-West Link, now a $3 billion commitment; the Toowoomba second range crossing, now a $1.285 billion commitment; and the first ever regional public-private roads project in Australia. There are new projects the member for Perth might be interested in like the Perth freight link and a $9.25 million commitment for the first ever public-private roads project in Australia. There is the Northern Territory roads package worth $77 million and the national highway upgrade program, with $228 million. Additional funding for local roads programs includes the Black Spot program, now a $564.5 million commitment; and the Roads to Recovery program, now a $2.4 billion commitment. These are all significant commitments in their own right.

One of the most significant commitments from South Australia's perspective and, in particular, the perspective of my electorate of Hindmarsh is South Road. The North-South Corridor, which the Prime Minister has been extremely committed to since he came to Adelaide in October, was one of the first priorities that I dedicated myself to work on when I was elected. I have been regularly talking to the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, the assistant minister, Jamie Briggs, and others about the importance of this corridor to South Australia. I have been consulting with locals, businesses, stakeholders and local government, in particular the mayors of Charles Sturt, Marion and West Torrens as well as councillors in the areas.

I commend other support from the local community, including by the Messenger, the local newspaper, on their commitment to the issue. They have run a series of articles and spoken to local stakeholders, local residents groups and traders groups. Their support in getting this project over the line has been significant. As the Messenger said in their post-budget edition: 'Residents, traders and community leaders are celebrating victory.' How right they are. Since the announcement, I have also spoken with many residents and traders and they have been extremely positive about the announcement because they know it will help decrease travelling times for families in the area. It will decrease travelling times for businesses. It will improve productivity. It will reduce the amount of time people are stuck in traffic. It has been very well received in the local community—and so it should be. This has been on the cards for so long and we decided to act strongly.

This is the single largest infrastructure investment in South Australia by any Australian government. Early works will start next year, to be completed by 2018. The upgrades will improve access to the port, the airport and freight terminals, and will improve the efficiency of public transport, something that all South Australians want. It will reduce time people spend being stuck in traffic, giving them more time with their families. It will accelerate new opportunities for economic development and job opportunities and slash travel times for commuters.

The government has made a record $2 billion investment to build the infrastructure of the 21st century in South Australia. Eight hundred new jobs will be created. This is $435 million more than what Labor would have invested in South Australia if they were re-elected. Let me tell you what others have said. The state Labor Treasurer, Tom Koutsantonis, has said:

It's got to be fixed, it's very, very important and I think quite frankly that the Commonwealth have stumped up to take on one of the hardest parts of South Road and that's encouraging.

The RAA were almost most complimentary. Mr Mark Borlace from the RAA said:

It's fantastic to see that these two significant parts of South Road will be upgraded by 2018.

Regarding the Black Spot program and Roads to Recovery in my electorate of Hindmarsh, we have made three major announcements that will help with road safety. Tapleys Hill Road, Marlborough Street and Valetta Road in Fulham Gardens will be improved. Marion Road and Cross Road at South Plympton will have changes made to help address the high level of right-turn crashes on all approaches. Sir Donald Bradman Drive and Sir Richard Williams Avenue in Brooklyn Park will be improved to improve sight distance and reduce rear-end crashes. These are examples of local programs, local commitments and local improvements.

I will quickly touch on some major infrastructure investment across other areas of Australia. In Victoria, there is a record $7.6 billion investment, which is $1.6 billion more than Labor would have committed. In WA—the member for Perth will be interested—a record $4.7 billion is committed, which is $880 million more than Labor committed. The Swan Valley bypass and the Great Northern Highway are two of the projects. In Queensland, 45 new programs of works are proposed for the Bruce Highway. The Gateway Motorway in Brisbane has received a commitment of $930 million. The total contribution is $6.7 billion for Queensland. In Tasmania, the Midland Highway will receive $400 million for freight and passenger movements. The member for Grayndler has joined us and I know he is happy about these announcements. I am looking forward to hearing his response to this record infrastructure investment.

In closing, infrastructure spend is a win for all Australians—from the Northern Territory, where we are upgrading six regional roads, to Tasmania where there is record Commonwealth government investment in infrastructure to improve our productivity, to help our businesses, to reduce travelling times for families and, importantly, to improve our economy to get it back on track, to build a better and bigger Australia.

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