Mookhey says NSW campaigning ‘tough’ to get federal infrastructure spending restored

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers denied the Albanese government had abandoned Western Sydney, calling it the “hope of the side” for Australia’s future economy.

The new Western Sydney Airport will get less investment from the state government if the Commonwealth fails to reverse funding cuts for crucial road projects around the Aerotropolis, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey says.

Responding to The Daily Telegraph’s ‘Let’s Get Moving’ campaign, Mr Mookhey said the Minns government has been having “tough and robust” conversations with its federal counterpart in a bid to get funding for 17 road and rail projects across NSW restored.

He said the Albanese government is “at the table” when it comes to restoring the funding.

The Telegraph on Monday revealed that traffic is now worse in Western Sydney than the CBD for the first time, and called for the Albanese government to find more money to upgrade crucial transport links groaning under the strain of population growth.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey says NSW is having “tough and robust” conversations about federal funding. Picture: Richard Dobson

“We’re pleased that they are understanding the impact of this decision, and (that) they are talking constructively about how we can be in a better position to build the critical infrastructure growing communities needs,” Mr Mookhey said.

The Telegraph can reveal that the Minns government put forward a proposed “funding package” to the Commonwealth in February, seeking more investment on roads and rail. Negotiations between NSW and Canberra are ongoing.

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Mr Mookhey’s comments came as federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers declared that Western Sydney will be a “big priority” in his upcoming budget.

Dr Chalmers said Western Sydney is the “hope of the side” when it comes to the future of Australia’s economy, and denied his government was abandoning Sydney’s west.

“I think Western Sydney is in many ways the hope of the side when it comes to the way that we want to build an economy that delivers for more people,” he said. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Mackay in Queensland on Monday. Picture: Instagram

“And you should expect to see that reflected in the decisions that we take in the budget,” he said.

Dr Chalmers said funding for NSW infrastructure “went up by around $1.3 billion” in the mid-year budget update.

However, Coalition Infrastructure spokeswoman Bridget McKenzie said that statement was a lie. She said the mid-year budget update reduced funding for road and rail in NSW by $1.9 billion.

$15 million in planning funding for road upgrades was cut by Infrastructure Minister Catherine King last year. Picture: Daily Telegraph / Gaye Gerard

“The Treasurer and the Prime Minister are either deliberately misleading people or they do not know the major infrastructure cuts they made in their first two Budgets,” Ms McKenzie said.

“Either way they are running away from the fact NSW alone has seen $1.9 billion stripped out from Federal funding in the last Budget announcement in December,” she said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said money ripped out of 17 road and rail projects in NSW last year is still allocated to infrastructure on this state.

Luddenham Rd is one of seven “priority” roads that had planning funding cut last year. Picture: Daily Telegraph / Gaye Gerard

He said the Morrison government had not allocated enough money for infrastructure projects around the country.

“You can’t build a road on a media release, you need proper funding in order to actually get things done.”

Mr Albanese said his government was “determined” to actually get infrastructure completed, and said Western Sydney residents would “see that again in the Budget in May”.

In response to Ms McKenzie’s claims, Dr Chalmers said the government is providing “an extra $1.3 billion over 10 years in the mid-year budget (update)” for infrastructure.

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]