The Leader of the Opposition has voted for less funding for Tasmanian infrastructure. The Tasmanian Government has called for an 80:20 split for infrastructure investment, while State Labor has argued for a 50:50 split.
This means the Leader of the Opposition would forgo hundreds of millions of infrastructure funding for Tasmanians.
Mr Winter has refused to call on the Albanese Federal Government to match the Dutton-led Coalition’s promise to reinstate the 80:20 funding ratio on investments in Tasmanian roads, bridges and rail.
The Federal Labor Government has dudded Tasmanians by declaring they will walk away from the long-standing 80:20 co-contribution ratio for regional road and bridge projects between the Federal Government and State Government, which has been vital for Tasmania’s infrastructure program.
If Tasmania didn’t receive the 80:20 funding ratio split on key projects, like our Bridgewater Bridge and the 10-year Midland Highway Safety Action Plan, they would not have proceeded and Tasmanians would be worse off.
Projects like these are crucial in driving job growth and economic activity – keeping Tasmania’s economy strong and our people safer.
For the Labor Leader to thumb his nose at calling on the Federal Government to invest more into Tasmania’s roads and bridges just shows where he’s priorities lay – and it’s not in Tasmania’s best interests.
The motion agreed by every MP from all parties and independents (except Labor) is as follows:
Mr Ferguson to move That the House:—
1. Notes that
a. the Bass Highway is a strategically vital asset in Tasmania’s transport network for local residents and visitors and as a key freight route linking rail, ports and roads for the agriculture, forestry, aquaculture and mining industries;
b. the Federal Government committed $80 million to the Bass Highway in the 2021-22 Australian Budget, calling it the Bass Highway Safety and Freight Efficiency Upgrades Package;
c. the Federal Government reallocated this funding to other Southern Tasmanian road projects in the 2023-24 MYEFO, leaving the Bass highway package unfunded;
d. the Tasmanian Liberal Government committed $20 million to the duplication of the Bass Highway from Launceston to Deloraine in the 2024 State Election;
e. the long-standing 80:20 co-contribution ratio for regional road and bridge projects between the Federal Government and State Government has been vital for Tasmania’s infrastructure program and has been removed from the Land Transport Infrastructure National Partnership Agreement.
2. Calls on all political parties to, before 3 May 2025, commit to restoring the long-standing guaranteed 80:20 co-contribution ratio for future regional road and bridge projects and to cement this funding ratio for the Tasmanian freight rail network.
