The Liberal Government’s first budget delivers on its promise to rebuild essential services and confirms a $197 million investment over four years for safety and efficiency improvements on the Midland Highway.
This is part of a $1.6 billion investment into infrastructure across the Forward Estimates, an increase of $170 million on what was forecast in last year’s budget.
Treasurer Peter Gutwein says this level of investment in infrastructure hasn’t been seen since the Global Financial Crisis saw additional Commonwealth investment.
The roads program included in our Budget will see $733 million invested into the State’s road network. This infrastructure program will reach all areas of Tasmania.
We are laying the foundations for the future and this is further proof of our commitment to the future of the state.
Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding says planning is already underway for the duplication of the Midland Highway from Perth to Breadalbane.
Construction is expected to start late next year on this major priority project and will see this narrow, busy section become a four lane separated highway with safer junctions, which will lead to improved travel times and reduced crash risk.
This critical infrastructure project will be among the first started under the $500 million Midland Highway 10-Year Action Plan, funded by the Federal and State Governments.
We’ve listened to the community, and through our Action Plan we will make the Midland Highway safer.
Major infrastructure projects such as this will create jobs and help deliver the Liberal Government’s Plan to reduce the unemployment rate in line with the national rate by the end of its first term.
The Liberal Government promised Tasmanians it would rebuild essential services and tackle the jobs crisis andtoday’s commitment to infrastructure delivers on both fronts.
This is a copy of today’s public statement from my colleagues.
