East-West Link is ‘dead’ for time being, says Labor leader Bill Shorten

The contentious East-West Link project is dead for the “foreseeable future” and the Morrison government should get off its “high horse” about it, Labor leader Bill Shorten says.

The contentious East-West Link project is dead for the “foreseeable future” and the Morrison government should get off its “high horse” about it, Labor leader Bill Shorten says.

The Opposition Leader today took aim at Prime Minister Scott Morrison for keeping money “locked away” for the project while underfunding infrastructure across the state.

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Mr Morrison said this week he remains committed to the project, but promised Victoria would be “well addressed” in next month’s Budget.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says PM Scott Morrison should forget about East-West Link. Picture: Kym Smith

The proposed 18-kilometre tollway to connect the Eastern Freeway at Clifton Hill with the Western Ring Road at Sunshine West has been a fierce battle ground between Canberra and Spring Street over the past five years.

Mr Shorten said it was the “ultimate in... pettiness” when it had been rejected at two state elections.

He said it was “hopeless” that the federal Liberals had spent about 10 cents in every dollar nationally on infrastructure in Victoria.

“Why don’t the federal government climb down off their high horse and free up some infrastructure money for Victorians and Melburnians in the way which has been voted on at the state election?” Mr Shorten said.

“I think the MetroRail project’s fantastic. I’m pleased that we’re doing an Airport Link — that’s long overdue — but I think the more that we can do to give public transport options to road users in Melbourne, the better Melbourne will be. Melbourne’s getting too congested.”

“But one of the reasons it’s congested is because we’ve got a federal government fighting the 2014 state election yet again with Dan Andrews.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he remains committed to the project.

Mr Morrison said yesterday he and Urban Infrastructure Minister Alan Tudge were having “good discussions” with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews about priorities in Victoria.

He said Victoria was “very high” on his list on infrastructure funding.

“It’s a city that is groaning under the strains of population growth,” Mr Morrison said.