Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie has blasted the Albanese government for its attempts to “pay off Jacinta Allan’s infrastructure credit card” following astronomical cost blowout figures.
Victoria is describing the federal budget as a constructive step in the right direction, despite no new money for the state government’s signature infrastructure project.
In the Treasurer’s new blueprint, there was no new money for the Suburban Rail Loop.
The Victorian budget was ultimately banking on a $11 billion contribution from the Commonwealth to deliver the project.
The Herald Sun on Monday revealed Victoria’s road and rail project costs had blown out by $12.7 billion since December – costing taxpayers an extra $83.6m a day.
Its analysis of the commonwealth’s Infrastructure Investment Program revealed the federal government had contributed an extra $5bn to Victoria’s major builds.
Victoria’s biggest and most expensive road project, the North East Link, has seen the biggest blow-out, up from $15.8 billion to $26.1 billion.
Senator Bridget McKenzie told The Herald Sun the federal government’s contribution was an attempt to “pay off Jacinta Allan’s infrastructure credit card”.
Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie blasted the federal government for its attempts to pay off Jacinta Allan’s infrastructure credit card following astronomical cost blowout figures. Picture: Sky News Australia.
“It’s not just Victorian taxpayers that are going to be paying for the fact that Jacinta Allan and that state Labor government can’t manage projects and can’t manage their own budget, but indeed, it’s all of Australia that is actually now putting in nearly $5 billion,” Ms McKenzie told Sky News Australia.
“Not one single extra kilometre of road, not one more pothole filled in, not one more line of track delivered as a result of that investment…it is seriously just to cover the fact that Jacinta Allan can’t manage money. “
The project was first promised to cost $5 billion, then $10 billion before being revised to $15.8 billion when designs were locked in – before finally being updated to $26.1 billion.
A cost explainer of the North East Link reveals the freeway upgrades to the M80 and Eastern freeway will cost $9.5 billion – the most costly aspect of the project.
Road and rail project budgets across Victoria have blown out by $12.7 billion since December. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw
The Nationals Senator rebuffed claims the cost blowouts were caused by workforce shortages and supply chain issues, instead lashing out at the government for “stitching up” a “sweetheart deal” with the CFMEU.
Reports surfaced in 2020 that the Andrews Government worked closely with union bosses to inflate wages on the North East Link.
The $200 billion Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) has notably been snubbed in federal government funding, and Ms McKenzie blasted state Minister Danny Pearson for refusing to rule out whether Victorians would be up for an SRL tax to get the “much-derided project up and running”.
“We’re waiting for the full business case to be delivered to Infrastructure Australia and yet there are billions and billions and billions of dollars being forked out for a suburban rail loop project that we don’t know when is going to be delivered and whether it’s even value for money,” the Victorian Senator said.
“So, on every single measure of spending taxpayers’ money, this government fails time and time again, and it’s being backed in by Anthony Albanese and Catherine King.”
Suburban rail loop renders. Supplied
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In May, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton declared he would not support the $200 billion Suburban Rail Loop if he secured the top job, questioning where the funding was coming from.
Tedious delays to an Airport rail link had Ms McKenzie questioning the exuberant cost blowouts, as Melbourne Airport and the state government continue to bicker over the details.
“We’re one of the major airports in the world that doesn’t have a link between our CBD and our airport. It’s been on the table for years, it’s been part of the master plans, signed off by Catherine King here in Canberra and yet she cannot get the state government to actually fund the project,” Ms McKenzie said.
“Meanwhile, we’ve got the Suburban Rail Loop disaster on the books, sucking in billions and billions of dollars nd a real cloud over it.
“Being in government is all about priorities and I want to know what’s not being built because money’s being funnelled into the Suburban Rail Loop.”