Julie Collins (Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What is in this budget for my home state of Tasmania? We saw all last week the headlines about the $320 million in extra infrastructure, but of course the truth is that there is just $4 million next financial year coming from the government for Tasmania. Indeed, over the forward estimates, only a quarter of that money will actually be delivered. Tasmanians know that this government cannot be trusted to deliver infrastructure in my home state.

An example of this is the Hobart City Deal. In question time today, we had the Deputy Prime Minister talk about Macquarie Point. Macquarie Point has been vacant for eight years, the entire time they have been in government, with nothing happening—nothing. For the Bridgewater Bridge, for five years we've been waiting for the detailed design from this government. Construction still hasn't started on the Bridgewater Bridge. Of course, there's the Hobart Airport roundabout in my electorate. That was announced five years ago and is still under construction.

Seriously, how can any Tasmanian take this government and its promises seriously? We know that it's all about announcement and never about delivery when it comes to infrastructure in my home state. The four-lane Midland Highway was promised by Will Hodgman and Tony Abbott back in 2014 to be four lanes all the way. Of course, we still have yet more money in this budget for the Midland Highway, because it still hasn't been delivered, and it never will be.