Communities in Northern Australia are struggling, the economy is growing at its slowest pace in a decade, wages are stagnant, and there is no help from the Morrison Government.
Through Senate Estimates, Labor uncovered information that confirms many of the Morrison Government’s infrastructure projects won’t start for years.
Across Northern Australia, less than a third of infrastructure funding is forecast to flow before the next election.
There are many projects across the Northern Territory that are funded off in the never never.
The Prime Minister should work with the Territory Government to fast track investment, including:
- None of the funding for the Jabiru Road Upgrades will flow in this term of Parliament, despite the Prime Minister stating in late October that design and consultation work is underway.
- Only a quarter of the funding for Alice Springs to Halls Creek Corridor Upgrades will flow over the next four years.
- Only a quarter of the funding for Alice Springs to Darwin Corridor Upgrades will flow over the next four years.
- Only a quarter of the funding for Katherine to Newman Corridor Upgrades will flow over the next four years.
- Only a quarter of the funding for Tennant Creek to Townsville Corridor Upgrades will flow over the next four years.
- Less than half of the funding for Central Arnhem Road Upgrade will flow over the next four years.
- Only a quarter of the funding for Adelaide River to Wadeye Corridor Upgrades will flow over the next four years.
People living in the Northern Territory want jobs and road improvements now – not in four, five, or six years.
Rather than taking action now, the Morrison Government just keeps overpromising and under delivering, pushing jobs even further down the track.
It’s time Scott Morrison got behind Northern Australia, and brought forward infrastructure spending and the jobs that will come with it.