NT government challenges Coalition to fund Outback Way before election
Territorians have been warned not to hold their breath for an upgrade to the Outback Way, despite the Deputy Prime Minister promising $678m to upgrade the route.
Northern Territory
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THE Northern Territory’s Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler has challenged the federal government to include funding for the Outback Way upgrade in next month’s budget.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce on Monday announced the Coalition would spend $678m sealing the road by 2030.
Outback Way links Western Australia with Queensland via Alice Springs.
Speaking on Tuesday, Ms Lawler said she wanted the Coalition to fund the link in the looming March Budget, before Australians go to the polls in May.
“That was not an election commitment as far as I’m concerned,” she said.
“It was on letterhead, that was the Deputy Prime Minister’s letterhead - he is still the deputy prime minister and election hasn’t been called.”
Ms Lawler then challenged Mr Joyce to put his money where his mouth is.
“So I want to see that money ... in this year’s budget,” she said.
Barnaby shores up Central Australian votes
BARNABY Joyce says he was “moved” seeing a pipeline dream of the third sealed road through Australia turning into a reality, as he looked to shore up Central Australian voters on his visit to Alice Springs.
The Deputy Prime Minister announced the $678m funding boost on Monday morning, promising to complete the remaining unsealed roads of the Outback Way by 2030, a crucial freight and tourist link running across Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
Joined by CLP candidate for Lingiari Damien Ryan and CLP senate candidate Jacinta Price – as well as other proponents of the Outback Way – Mr Joyce said the government was delivering on its commitment to seal the entire length of the 2720km road, which was first proposed 25 years ago.
“Cities don’t build roads, roads build cities,” Mr Joyce said.
“What we’re doing here … with this major investment is showing to the Australian people our vision, a vision for the future.”
Mr Joyce, who is also Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, said the funding would seal another 1000km of road, creating an estimated 2197 jobs and better connecting regional industries and communities.
Additional priority sections on the Plenty Hwy and Tjukaruru Rd also make up part of the funding, which has already been included in the upcoming budget.
With a federal election due on or before May 21 and the long-held Labor seat of Lingiari up for grabs, the Deputy Prime Minister threw his weight behind Mr Ryan and Ms Price, praising the pair’s “great vision” for Central Australia.
“The Territory clearly understand that Damien Ryan and Jacinta Price would be great advocates for their cause,” he said.
It comes days after Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese passed through the Territory as part of an unfamiliar campaign trail.
Following Labor MP Warren Snowdon’s announcement he will retire, the Coalition and Labor have entered into battle over his seat of Lingiari, which has remained in Labor’s stronghold since its inception in 2001.
The Labor Party has fielded former NT deputy chief minister Marion Scrymgour into the running for the seat, which covers almost the entirety of the Territory except for the area around Darwin.
Mr Albanese also used his time in the NT to pledge more roads funding if elected to government, including a range of projects at Santa Teresa Rd and the Mereenie Loop in Central Australia, as well as all-weather access to Maningrida and Milingimbi barge landing.
The pledge makes up part of a $200m Northern Territory strategic roads package and is predominantly targeted towards paving road networks throughout remote NT.
“It will make a big difference, particularly in Marion’s (Scrymgour) future electorate of Lingiari,” Mr Albanese said at the weekend.
$120m to seal the NT’s section of Outback Way
THE federal government has committed more than $120m to seal the Territory section of the Outback Way road that links Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce made the promise during a weekend visit to Alice Springs.
The Coalition commitment is to seal the entire 2720km length of the Outback Way, although no time frame is provided for completion.
The Coalition promise is to commit $124m to upgrade the Plenty Highway and Thukaruru Rd in the Northern Territory, as well as seal the remaining dirt sections in Queensland and WA.
The project will create 442 jobs in the Territory and support almost 2200 jobs for the duration of the project.
The additional funding will see another 1000km of road sealed, including the remaining unsealed sections in Queensland and Western Australia, as well as upgrades rolled out across priority sections, particularly in the Territory. The total funding commitment is $678m.
Mr Joyce said the investment guaranteed infrastructure and jobs.
“Our investment locks in a pipeline of works that will drive investment in regional Australia,” he said.
He said the money would deliver a much-needed economic injection in the Northern Territory.
“These upgrades will spark new opportunities for industries along the route, including the critical earth precincts north of Alice Springs, the gold precincts around Laverton (WA) and the massive beef industry, while ensuring communities and people on the corridor have better access to supplies,” he said.
CLP candidate for Lingiari Damien Ryan said the Outback Way would transform Central Australia.
Australia’s Route 66, Outback Way is a critical piece of national transport infrastructure that supports regional economies and moves travellers along the 2720km route that connects Winton in Queensland with Laverton in Western Australia via Alice Springs.
Prime Minister announces funding for NT defence
THE Morrison government has promised to spend $282m on two defence projects in the Northern Territory.
The NT News can reveal the major economic boost to the Territory, ahead of the Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s visit over the weekend.
The military cash splash will include the construction of a regional maintenance centre for the Australian Navy’s shipbuilding program, and comes at a time when Darwin’s geostrategic importance is growing.
As part of the package, the government will spend $112m on 34 projects within the Defence Department to enhance the nation’s defence capabilities in the Territory.
“The regional maintenance centre alone will inject around $160m into the local economy, create around 70 jobs over the next five years, and support the work of more than 1500 tradies from the Darwin region,” Mr Morrison said.
“It will play a key role in sustaining complex naval capabilities, initially including the new evolved Cape Class Patrol Boats and Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessels.”
Mr Morrison said a further 200 tradies would work on the 34 projects across the Territory.
“We will upgrade airfields, working accommodation, and critical communication stations, as well as improving bases including the RAAF Base Tindal, RAAF Base Darwin, Robertson Barracks, and Defence Training areas such as the Bradshaw Training area,” he said.
The major defence spend comes as the Northern Territory becomes increasingly important, particularly as global power shifts toward Asia.
“The Northern Territory is a key strategic area for Defence and it is the guardian of Australia’s northern approaches,” Mr Morrison said.
“These investments are recognition of the key role the Northern Territory provides for Defence and Australia.”
Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price said the government were committing the funds due to the “appalling record” of previous Labor governments in the area of defence.
“The local carpenters, electricians, boilermakers, mechanics and many other tradespeople are getting unprecedented opportunities to support our Defence bases,” Ms Price said.
“This level of support is being mirrored across the country, where we will invest $270b in defence capability over the coming decade, supporting more than 100,000 jobs across the economy.
“It is in stark contrast to Labor, which when last in government cut Defence spending by $18b.” Mr Morrison will be in Top End this weekend to mark 80 years since the Bombing of Darwin.
Originally published as NT government challenges Coalition to fund Outback Way before election
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