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The Morrison and Marshall Governments will support construction jobs across South Australia by jointly investing an additional $145 million to deliver shovel-ready infrastructure projects and urgent road safety upgrades.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said further investment in infrastructure would play a critical role in the Commonwealth’s JobMaker plan and help the South Australian economy as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Partnering with state and territory governments to invest in more major infrastructure projects across Australia is a key part of our JobMaker plan to rebuild our economy and create more jobs,” the Prime Minister said.
“This funding injection means we have brought forward or provided additional funding in excess of $440 million to South Australia in the past eight months.
“This package builds on the fast tracking of $327 million for infrastructure in South Australia which we announced last November, locking in priority upgrades that will bust congestion, increase productivity, improve safety, and boost jobs at a time we need it most.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Government had worked closely with State, Territory and Local Governments to identify shovel-ready projects to keep the economy moving and get money flowing back into jobs and businesses as soon as possible.
“This package includes a $52 million Regional Road Network Package, which will build on investments under the Roads of Strategic Importance initiative to deliver pavement treatments, shoulder sealing and safety enhancements to benefit the freight industry and regional communities across the state,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“We will also fund a $12 million higher-capacity North-South Freight Route bypassing Adelaide. This will deliver upgrades along the route between Murray Bridge and the Sturt Highway to remove speed restrictions and improve productivity, with initial works to get under way within six months.
“In all, this package will support more than 200 jobs during construction, which is good news for locals and communities across South Australia.”
Premier of South Australia Steven Marshall said the $145 million infrastructure investment is an important part of our plan to create local jobs and help re-build our economy.
“This significant infrastructure investment is part of our strong plan to create more South Australian jobs and support local businesses,” the Premier said.
“We have worked very closely with the Federal Government to fast track funding for these shovel-ready projects which will complement our record $12.9 billion infrastructure pipeline here in South Australia.”
Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the funding injection will deliver shovel-ready projects across SA.
“Our investment in road safety infrastructure will transform and modernise the Heysen tunnels under the South Eastern Freeway,” Mr Tudge said.
“We’re also upgrading the freeway to deliver speed-activated signage on the steep descent into Adelaide.”
South Australian Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Stephan Knoll said the focus on regional road upgrade across the state would stimulate regional economies and improve road safety.
“This massive investment in regional roads will support regional jobs, communities and more importantly, help save lives on our country roads,” Mr Knoll said.
“We are funding a suite of safety improvements across the state which will include fixing Long Valley Road through localised widening, shoulder sealing, intersection treatments, safety barriers and sight distance improvements.”
The jointly funded package is supported by investments from the Morrison ($115.6 million) and Marshall Governments ($28.9 million).
Commonwealth funding for the package has been drawn from the recently announced $1.5 billion allocation to priority shovel-ready projects and targeted road safety works.
The Morrison Government has now committed more than $9 billion to transport infrastructure in South Australia.
SA INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE
Shovel-ready projects

Road safety upgrades

The Morrison and Gutwein Governments are supporting construction jobs across Tasmania by jointly investing an additional $46 million to deliver shovel-ready infrastructure projects and urgent road safety upgrades.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said further investment in infrastructure would play a critical role in the Commonwealth’s JobMaker plan and help the Tasmanian economy as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Partnering with state and territory governments to invest in more major infrastructure projects across Australia is a key part of our JobMaker plan to rebuild our economy and create more jobs,” the Prime Minister said.
“This funding injection means we have brought forward or provided additional funding in excess of $200 million to Tasmania in the past eight months.
“This package builds on the fast tracking of $173 million for infrastructure in Tasmania which we announced last November, locking in priority upgrades that will increase productivity, improve safety and boost jobs at a time we need it most.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the funded projects in Tasmania include a number of road improvements, such as widening, surface work and bridge strengthening.
“The nine funded projects across the state will improve road safety for all users, while also enhancing accessibility and connectivity of the road network,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“$8 million is going towards main road and highway enhancements and another $7.2 million will go towards the widening of Railton Main Road and Richmond Road.”
Premier of Tasmania Peter Gutwein said the investment will create jobs for Tasmanians and save lives on the state’s roads.
“The Tasmanian Government will also invest $11.7 million in these projects, with $7 million going towards selected shovel-ready projects and $4.7 million to road safety improvements,” the Premier said.
“Many of the projects are due to start later this year, creating jobs and boosting the Tasmanian economy once COVID-19 has passed. This initiative complements Tasmania’s job-creating Construction Blitz plan to stimulate the economy and support thousands of jobs across the state.”
Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said Tasmanians will benefit from improved road connections right across the state.
“Working with the Tasmanian Government, we are developing heavy vehicle rest areas, installing roadside barriers and upgrading the Huon Highway and Sandfly Road junction,” Mr Tudge said.
“Roads are vital for keeping population centres connected in Tasmania, and this funding package will improve reliability of the network and make sure more people get home sooner and safer.”
Tasmanian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael Ferguson said the package will particularly improve the safety of school students across Tasmania.
“$3 million will be used to provide electronic signs in school zones across the state, while $6 million will also go to the construction of a pedestrian underpass, with an improved new engineering design including disability access, on the Midland Highway at Campbell Town,” Minister Ferguson said.
“The safety of all road users in the state is a priority, whether they are pedestrians, cyclists or drivers.”
Senator for Tasmania Richard Colbeck said getting shovels in the ground on local construction projects was crucial in maintaining jobs and economic growth across the state.
“This funding forms part of the Federal Liberal and Nationals Government’s record $100 billion dollar pipeline of infrastructure projects which is laying the foundations of a financial bridge to recovery on the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Senator Colbeck said.
The jointly funded package is supported by investments from the Morrison ($34.3 million) and Gutwein Governments ($11.7 million).
Commonwealth funding for the package has been drawn from the recently announced $1.5 billion allocation to priority shovel-ready projects and targeted road safety works.
The Morrison Government has now committed nearly $2.9 billion to transport infrastructure in Tasmania.
TASMANIAN INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE
Shovel-ready projects

Road safety upgrades

The Australian Greens Leader, Adam Bandt, has said Labor’s latest offer to embrace carbon capture and storage won’t help tackle the climate emergency, saying you don’t end the climate wars by surrendering.
“You don’t end the climate wars by surrendering,” Greens Leader Adam Bandt said.
“We need a plan to get coal out of the system, not to lock it in.
“The Liberals don’t care about climate change, so holding out for bipartisanship is just a recipe for inaction.”
“An energy plan premised on the unicorn technology of carbon capture and storage is doomed to failure.”
“It’s a red letter day for coal in Australia and a terrible day for the climate. Queensland ports recorded a record export, NSW revealed that their plans were based on the world ignoring the Paris Agreement and now the ALP and Liberals want to keep coal in the system for longer.
“The Liberal, National and Labor parties accept millions of dollars in donations from coal, oil and gas companies. Today’s news demonstrates that fossil fuel interests continue to have too much influence on our politics.
“After repealing the carbon price, it’s clear to anyone paying attention that not having a plan for coal is indeed the Liberals’ plan, and today Labor offered to sign on to it too.” Bandt said.

Federal Labor will today call for a Royal Commission into the Morrison Government’s illegal Robodebt scheme so a disaster like this never happens to the Australian people again.
Millions of Australians were targeted for four long years by this Government, in a bid to artificially boost the budget bottom line with up to 740,000 unlawful debts.
The Prime Minister himself was the architect of this cruel scheme designed to extract $1.5 billion in unlawful debts from the Australian people.
A Royal Commission would shed light on critical questions that might otherwise go unanswered, including:

• Who came up with the idea for the scheme and what due diligence was done, what advice was obtained, prior to its implementation?
• When did the Government first learn that its Robodebt scheme was unlawful?
• Did the Government settle legal challenges, and choose not to appeal adverse AAT determinations in order to avoid a court ruling that the scheme was unlawful?
• How was such a fundamentally – and obviously – flawed scheme allowed to continue for as long as it did?
• In total, how much has the failed scheme cost the Australian taxpayer?
• In total, how many debts have been issued under the illegal Robodebt scheme?
• How many Australians have been harmed by the Robodebt scheme?
• How many Australians have taken their own lives after being pursued by the Government, or by debt collectors paid by the Government, for debts under the illegal Robodebt scheme?

A Royal Commission could also make recommendations – including for law reform – on the sole use of “data matching” and automated processes.
Australians deserve the truth. Australians deserve action to stop this from happening again.
The Morrison Government is all spin and no delivery. Whether it’s Robodebt, allowing criminals to steal people’s superannuation or the HomeBlunder package, then never deliver and it’s Australians that feel the painful consequences.
The Government has continued to hide from scrutiny and refused to answer basic questions about the scheme. Only a Royal Commission will ensure they are held to account.