Projects rollout up to states, says Morrison

Scott Morrison says the rollout of the $100bn infrastructure pipeline depends on the co-operation of the states and territories.

Scott Morrison in Canberra on Tuesday. Picture: Getty Images

Scott Morrison has said his government is committed to delivering major infrastructure projects more quickly, but has cautioned that the rollout of the $100bn pipeline depends on the co-operation of the states and territories.

As NSW, Victoria and Queensland roll out a combined $48.6bn in infrastructure spending this financial year, Labor, the Reserve Bank and the building lobby have called on the ­federal government to bring forward parts of its decade-long infrastructure program to boost econo­mic growth.

Speaking at the Master Builders Forum at Parliament House on Tuesday, Mr Morrison said the lobby “had me at hello” when it came to bringing forward infrastructure spending, but the states had an important role to play, too.

“Just shifting things between commonwealth and state because­ of a feeling of frustration because the state government won’t move. That’s not the answer­,” he said. “We just have to get state governments to move in those situations and through this process that’s been occurring.”

NSW is set to spend $93bn across the forward estimates, of which $27.7bn will be spent this financ­ial year, while Victoria will spend about $53.7bn by 2023, with $14.2bn of that used to fund infrastructure products in 2019-20. Queensland has committed $49.54bn over the next four years to fund construction of vital infrastructure across the state, with $6.7bn allocated to capital purchases in 2019-20.

The Prime Minister told the forum he would work with anyone who wanted to “build stuff and get on with building stuff”, while praising the building and construction sector, which generates 1.2 million jobs, for its contrib­ution to the economy.

“Now, in our program you’ll be very aware of our big commitments to infrastructure and that infrastructure plan is over $100bn strong,” he said. “Almost half of that will be spent in the next four years. Around $10bn of that will be spent this year.

“So when it comes to actually bringing forward infrastructure spending in Australia, you had me at hello. Because we’re already doing it. Now, of course, we’re partners in these projects and we work with state governments in providing them with the resources to get on with those projects.”

Master Builders chief Denita Wawn is calling for the $100bn infras­tructure spending pipeline to be brought forward. “Our industr­y is totally wedded to economic growth. Without it, our industry is in the slow lane,” she said on Tuesday. “That’s why we again today are calling on the government to bring forward construction of infrastructure.”

Labor’s infrastructure spokeswoman Catherine King has urged the government to listen to the RBA’s advice. “Seven times since the election, the Reserve Bank governor has called for infrastructure funding to be brought forward,” she said on Tuesday. “When will the government fin­ally heed the advice?”

A spokesman for Deputy Queensland Premier Jackie Trad said the states needed Mr Morrison to bring forward committed investment in projects beyond the current forward estimates.