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Federal government promises another $80m for the state’s ‘red carpet’ road

A major Tasmanian highway has a long history of attracting big-spending budget pledges, and this year is no different – but questions have been raised about how the millions are being spent.

NO federal budget would be complete without a multimillion-dollar promise of upgrades for the Bass Highway and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has another $80m in the kitty for the red-carpet road.

It has a history of attracting big-spending pledges, but the state’s peak motoring body on Monday called for clarity on how the millions are being spent.

The 273km highway runs through the marginal federal seats of Bass and Braddon.

The state Liberals pledged $40m in upgrades to the road in the lead-up to the March 2018 state election and the federal government allocated $102m to upgrades in the 2018-19 federal budget.

The highway appears to have missed out on a cash splash in 2019-20 but was allocated $40m under the Tasmanian Roads Package in the May 2020-21 federal budget and it would appear $100m under the federal government’s Roads of Strategic Importance program in October the same year

Last November’s state budget upped the ante with $147 million in upgrades over four years as part of the Liberals “more than $200 million joint commitment with the Australian Government”.

The federal government has flagged a figure of $80m towards $100m worth of upgrades in Tuesday’s budget for “safety and freight efficiency upgrades”.

A log truck on a section of the Bass Highway between Wynyard and Smithton. Picture: CHRIS KIDD
A log truck on a section of the Bass Highway between Wynyard and Smithton. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

The RACT has called for clarity on how the money is being spent.

“While the $80 million commitment is welcome, the federal government needs to reveal when the funding will be spent and on which sections of the Bass Highway,” RACT chief advocacy officer Garry Bailey said.

“This money will greatly improve safety on the highway, but we need to know how it will be spent.”

Mr Bailey said all major parties had committed to a 10-year plan for the Bass Highway during the recent state election, which will help inform planning and spending on the highway.

“It’s important that this plan addresses funding and gives Tasmanians a clear outline of upgrades,” he said.

“This will allow the state service and civil construction sector to plan for works on the Bass Highway.

“The state government must urgently examine and build the capacity, skills and resources of the state service and civil construction sector to ensure they can roll out these upgrades.”

The RACT also welcomed federal funding for the Midland Highway, the Algona Road interchange and duplication of the Kingston Bypass, as well as the Rokeby Road to South Arm Road upgrades and Huon Link Road.

david.killick@news.com.au

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Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/news/politics/federal-government-promises-another-80m-for-the-states-red-carpet-road/news-story/dd6baa3bd7330f8d5009eb8e79595fc7