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Media Contact: Greg Pierce Coffs Harbour: 02 6652 6233 Canberra: 02 6277 4447 Mobile: 0408 532 785
Email: greg.pierce@aph.gov.au
15 May 2013
Hartsuyker raises Pacific Highway Budget concerns in Federal Parliament Federal MP Luke Hartsuyker has raised concerns over Federal Government claims that work will commence on more than $3 billion worth of new Pacific Highway projects before mid 2014.
During a speech in the Federal Parliament today Mr Hartsuyker questioned the Government’s claims, given no additional funding was committed in this week’s Budget.
“The new projects had a cumulative cost of more than $3 billion. Such a substantial commitment would be very welcome, if only it could be believed,” Mr Hartsuyker told the Parliament.
“Despite Minister's Albanese media release, when you go through last night's budget papers there is not one mention of the Pacific Highway and not one extra dollar of funding detailed in the 2013-14 budget papers.
“There is not one mention of the Pacific Highway in the budget papers, yet there is a media release from the minister claiming that more than $3.3 billion in projects is set to commence.
“The government is treating North Coast residents as mugs. They are playing with people's lives, all for the sake of a headline. This is symbolic of what is wrong with this government and why they are in such a mess.
“Their addiction to policy by press release has got them into all sorts of trouble and this is just another example.
“The truth is that funding for future projects on the highway is in limbo because of a stand-off between the Commonwealth and the New South Wales government.
“When the O'Farrell government was elected to office, federal minister Albanese immediately tore up the 80:20 Pacific Highway funding model which had previously existed between federal Labor and the state Labor government.
“Instead the minister began insisting on fifty:fifty funding and as a result there is a $4 billion funding black hole which has to be filled if the road's duplication is to be completed.
“Since changing the funding arrangements we have seen the federal government concoct all sorts of excuses for changing the funding model.
“The most recent came from the federal member for Page who was put on the spot after the Gillard government announced that it would fund upgrades to the Bruce Highway based on the 80:20 model with the Queensland government.
“When the member for Page was asked why the same funding formula did not apply in New South Wales, this is what she told Prime Television News on 30 April:
Media Contact: Greg Pierce Coffs Harbour: 02 6652 6233 Canberra: 02 6277 4447 Mobile: 0408 532 785
Email: greg.pierce@aph.gov.au
‘It is not part of the Australian National Network, that the Bruce Highway is, and to those highways the contribution (from the State) is 20 per cent, but it is 50/50 for the Pacific Highway.’ “The member for Page either does not understand the existing classification of the Pacific Highway or she is deliberately misleading her constituents because the Pacific Highway has been included in the National Transport Network since 2005.”
Mr Hartsuyker referred to a map which detailed the national transport network.
“This map here in my hand clearly illustrates that fact. As the map shows the National Land Transport Corridor clearly does include the Pacific Highway as it does the New England Highway.
As a result of the 2005 determination by the Howard government to include the Pacific Highway on the national network, billions of dollars in federal funding have been invested in the duplication of that road.
“So the member for Page needs to explain to North Coast residents why she is not being honest about the status of the highway. The extent that the government is going in order to mislead North Coast residents is a clear concern.
“When you look at the member for Page's lame excuse, then you witness the spin and deception which has emanated from this government, North Coast residents have every right to be concerned about the Gillard government's commitment to completing the highway upgrade.
“The real fear here is that behind all the spin the government actually intends to either cut funding for the highway or defer the funding for the highway.
“The member for Page and the member for Lyne, who have been conspicuous with their silence about the absence of any mention of the highway in the 2013-14 budget papers, must give North Coast residents a guarantee that funding for the highway will not be cut or deferred.
“They should explain how each project, which the minister claims are set to commence, will be funded in the next financial year.”
Mr Hartsuyker said the Coalition would restore the 80/20 fund model.
“We have announced and are committed to $5.6 billion. When combined with the New South Wales government's commitment of $1.5 billion that will deliver the funding necessary to complete the duplication of the road.
“That is $4 billion more than could possibly be delivered under the current funding arrangements,” Mr Hartsuyker told Federal Parliament.
Mr Hartsuyker has written to the Minister requesting details of all Federal funds which will be spent on existing and future Pacific Highway projects over the forward estimates.
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