Federal Budget 2018: Almost $25 billion in infrastructure spending targets election battlegrounds

ALMOST $25 billion will be spent across the nation in a new road, rail and public transport infrastructure package aimed a busting congestion and improving safety.

• MAIN WRAP: A comprehensive rundown of the Federal Budget.
• FIVE-MINUTE GUIDE: The Federal Budget ... fast.
• THE STATE: How South Australia fared in ScoMo’s Budget?
• CALCULATOR: What does the Federal Budget mean for you?
• TREASURER’S SPEECH: What he said. What he really meant.

ALMOST $25 billion will be spent across the nation in a new road, rail and public transport infrastructure package aimed at busting congestion and improving safety.

Key election battlegrounds of Victoria and Queensland are big winners, with up to $5b for the planned rail link to Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport and an extra $3.3b for continuing upgrades to the Bruce Highway, north of Queensland.

Perth’s METRONET rail project gets a further $1.05b, while the big-ticket item for South Australia is $1.4b for the North-South Rd corridor.

South Australia will receive $1.4b for the North-South Rd corridor. Picture: Matt Loxton

The latter includes $177m for the Regency Rd to Pym St corridor, which connects the Torrens to Torrens project with the South Rd Superway.

Of the $24.5b in new infrastructure spending nationally, $1.8b is being spent in SA.

Treasurer Scott Morrison said the measures formed part of the Government’s $75b, 10-year rolling national infrastructure plan.

“We have invested at record levels to build the roads, railways, airports and energy infrastructure Australia needs for the future,” he said.

Mr Morrison said the latest round was aimed at “strengthening our economy, busting congestion in our cities, making rural roads safer and getting our products to market”.

Budget documents trumpet that investing in major transport infrastructure grows the economy and creates jobs.

Mr Morrison unveiled a $1b Urban Congestion Fund to “support projects at a state level to fix pinch points and improve traffic flow and safety in our cities”.

Traffic along the M1 motorway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Picture: John Gass/AAP

A $3.5b Roads of Strategic Importance plan is aimed at upgrading freight routes, including $400m to improve the safety and efficiency of Tasmania’s Bass Highway corridor.

Western Australia, another important state at an election expected later this year or by May next year, gets $2.8b for new measures, particularly for the METRONET project — designed to improve connections in outer suburbs as part of a Perth City Deal.

Queensland, where a clutch of seats regularly decide who forms government, gets $5.2b for new projects, while a total of $7.8b has been committed for new major spending in Victoria.