The Albanese government is expected to announce a significant board and governance shake-up of the former Coalition government’s signature inland rail project after a damning review found the start date had blown into next decade and costs have almost doubled to an “astonishing” $31.4 billion.

Review author Kerry Schott slammed National Party proponents of the project, led by former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, for grossly underestimating the complexity of upgrading and adding around 1700 kilometres of track through Victoria, NSW and Queensland.