Victoria ready to call on Labor’s infrastructure promises

The Andrews government is eager to begin talks with the federal Labor government about unlocking $4bn in infrastructure funding.

Victoria is expecting to call in the promise to unlock $4bn in infrastructure funding in a new partnership with the federal Labor government.

State government sources say talks around a range of funding issues for key projects are expected to gather momentum as early as this week.

Negotiations around a new partnership for growth funding for public hospitals are also expected to be fast tracked on the back of Labor’s $20bn election pledge to increase hospital funding.

A further $4bn in infrastructure spending on the eve of the election, saying it would commit the cash to a range of projects.

It followed a $2.2bn commitment toward the $34.5bn eastern section of the Suburban Rail Loop between Cheltenham and Box Hill.

Significant investments to other major projects include $150 million to build the Camerons Lane Interchange at Beveridge, and $125 million for the Barwon Heads Road duplication.

Anthony Albanese made a number of election pledges to Victoria’s infrastructure builds. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The Mickleham Rd Upgrade in Greenvale will receive more than $100m in federal funding, while $57m has been put aside for the Wyndham West Link in southwest Melbourne/

At least 10 new urgent care medical clinics have also been promised across the state as part of a $135m policy.

The state government is keen to see increased federal funding committed to both the Suburban Rail Loop and the North East Link.

It has refused repeated $4bn offers from the Morrison government to build the East West Link since the Premier’s decision to rip up contracts for the project in 2014.

Ahead of the election Labor’s infrastructure spokeswoman Catherine King said she would work with the state government to open the $4bn locked box.

“If they’re not going to build them, then having that money just sitting there — not actually being productively used in the economy to employ and to build things — I think is pretty shortsighted,” she said.

“It’s in contingency and it’s not counted in the budget, so that would be a discussion to have post-election.”

The state government is keen to see increased federal funding committed to the Suburban Rail Loop.

Ms King flagged an Albanese government would make further investments in the Suburban Rail Loop.

She said the level of infrastructure investment would “certainly will be higher” under Labor.

Although she stopped short of backing Victoria’s push for a 25 per cent share in line with the state’s population.

Mr Andrews has his government would never consider building the 18 kilometre East West Link connection road.

“Let’s be abundantly clear about this. This project has been to two state elections and I’m very pleased to say it was defeated and our government and its priorities were endorsed,” he said last week.

“I’m not about building the things Victorians didn’t vote for.”

Originally published as Victoria ready to call on Labor’s infrastructure promises