Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

The coalition government notes Senator Muir's ongoing interest in funding for regional roads. As Senator Muir would be aware, the coalition government is funding regional road upgrades not only in his home state and my home state of Victoria but right across Australia. In fact, the coalition government is spending $210 million to help the Victorian government duplicate the Princes Highway East between Traralgon and the regional town of Sale, where Senator Muir has his electorate office.

On top of this, the coalition government is also providing $500 million to duplicate the Western Highway and more than $180 million to duplicate the Princes Highway West—both projects, again, located in regional Victoria. These projects are in addition to the coalition government's funding commitments in the current Infrastructure Investment program, which include $3.2 billion for Roads to Recovery, $500 million for the Black Spot Program, $300 million for the Bridges Renewal Program and $230 million for the National Highway Upgrade Program.

The coalition government's preference is for funding which was previously set aside for the East West Link to be used on other transport projects already agreed to within Victoria, including those in regional areas rather than be dormant in a Victorian bank account.