Transport experts blame a $10 billion blowout in Victoria’s North East Link on costly CFMEU disruptions, a failed tender process and expensive design decisions that pander to environmental and community groups.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said $3.2 billion in Tuesday’s federal budget would be directed to the “great project”, increasing the federal funding to $5 billion, for the $26.1 billion toll road, which is on track to become the most expensive in Victoria’s history.