Prime Minister calls further submissions and information for Cairns Water Security and Marine Precinct funding
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he’s yet to be provided with more information on topping-up funds for the critical Cairns Water Security Project, six months after he asked for it.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he’s yet to be provided with more information on topping-up funds for the critical Cairns Water Security Project, six months after he asked for it.
The Cairns Regional Council is seeking an additional $87.5m in federal government funding to help pay for its $472m water security project.
The former state government committed $195m, while the federal investment has sat at $107.5m – a pledge from the 2022 election.
Failing to attract the desired federal funds would likely see rates increase by $403 per year over 15 years, according to the council.
In July the Prime Minister was asked if he was prepared to commit the additional funds, following the project’s omission from the federal budget in May after a cost increase from the initial $248m price tag.
“We always consider proposals with business cases. What we require is business cases and proper proposals going forward,” he said in July 2024.
On Tuesday during his first visit to Cairns for the year, Mr Albanese was quizzed about a number of Far North projects with outstanding funding including water security, the Cairns Marine Precinct and the Daintree Microgrid Program.
“What we’ll do is have proper examination and won’t make promises without having detail and without having assessments” and “what we do is we receive submissions” were among Mr Albanese’s blanket responses to questions for increased investment.
However, asked if he had received the necessary information to make an informed decision to boost federal funding for the Cairns Water Security Project, his short answer was no.
“We haven’t yet, but we’re working constructively with the (Cairns) council,” he said.
“We put in over $107m, we committed for that project before the (2022) election.
“That was what we were told by them that, that was the costings. We provided that funding.”
Cairns Regional Council was asked if it had provided the additional information the Prime Minister was requiring.
“Following the Prime Minister’s comments, we will reach out to his office and the relevant department to confirm if there’s anything further that council can provide to assist with their decision,” Mayor Amy Eden said in response.
“Council has been working closely with the Prime Minister’s office, Senator Nita Green, relevant federal ministers and the relevant department (Federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water) for many months on our request for funds to match the State Government’s commitment.”
On the Cairns Marine Precinct’s Common User Facility, Mr Albanese dismissed Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch’s claims that his government had always underfunded the critical project which “blew out” from $360m to $826m, as unveiled by the state’s new transport minister in December 2024.
“He was in government for 10 years. If you ask Warren in a quiet moment, he’ll tell you about his disappointment about a lack of funding that occurred.”
In December, when responding to the increased costs, Cairns MP Michael Healy said the state had already begun discussions with its federal counterparts for increased funding, after an April Cabinet Budget Review Committee acknowledged the new cost and agreed it would proceed.
The committee had directed the state’s Development Department to negotiate with the federal government to determine a new funding split.
But those negotiations hadn’t won the Prime Minister over yet, who said he didn’t make funding announcements on the run.
“We don’t get out a colour coded spreadsheet like the former government did and look at seats and electorates.
“What we do is we receive submissions, we provide appropriate funding after proper assessments have been made.”
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