13 May 2009

Tony Burke – comments on infrastructure investment in the 2009-10 Federal Budget

This is a record investment for regional and rural infrastructure to support jobs and stimulate local economies for the long term and into the recovery. More than $21 billion on regional roads, highways and railways over six years—the Pacific, the Hume and Bruce highways, regional freight rail networks, black spots, local country roads, boom gates for rail crossings right through to port infrastructure. Every council and shire in regional Australia will share in $430 million under the Community Infrastructure Program. There is work already underway on local town halls, on sports grounds, swimming pools, parks and playgrounds, making sure that community infrastructure is part of the nation building package.