INFRASTRCUTURE CUTS, PROJECTS CANCELLED

As Senate Estimates digs into the Morrison Government’s broken promises and infrastructure spending cuts, new figures released reveal that Australians are paying more and more just to get to work.

Survey results released today by the Australian Automobile Association shows that the average Australian household spent $354 per week on transport over the first quarter of 2021.

This represents a 14.3 per cent increase over the previous quarter, the largest jump on record.

With the Morrison Government cutting infrastructure spending by $3.3 billion over the next four years, costs for Australian commuters are only going to rise.

We know that one of the best ways to increase transport affordability is by driving down the cost of vehicles and increasing investment in public transport – in the cities and in the regions.

That’s why Labor would drive down the price of electric vehicles and build on our proud record of investing in public transport.

This is the opposite of the Morrison Government’s approach.

Just yesterday, Senate Estimates heard that 6 Commuter Carparks in Melbourne have been cancelled, with the Government refusing to rule out more cuts to come.

In NSW, not a single cent of new money has been committed to public transport projects despite the calls of the state government. When questioned on this, Departmental Officials could only point to the possibility that buses can use new roads.

Australians don’t need more cuts and delays, they need real infrastructure delivery that boosts productivity, improves public transport and gets them home more quickly, safely and cheaply.