Bill Shorten to announce 10 infrastructure projects Labor will back if they win next election

Quote:

Federal Labor is vowing to support a rail link to Sydney's new airport as well as Melbourne's Metro Rail project if the party wins the next election. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will today announce 10 infrastructure projects Labor would back in government. The short-list features five projects in Queensland, including Brisbane's Cross River Rail and Gold Coast's Light Rail stage two. "Building these projects is Labor's priority, because building infrastructure creates jobs," Mr Shorten will tell the Queensland Media Club. "Australia's infrastructure deficit is an economic challenge that demands national leadership. "A new Labor government will ensure the Commonwealth funding to get these projects underway and completed as soon as possible is found in the current infrastructure budget." The ALP would submit the projects to Infrastructure Australia (IA) for assessment under a new process the party would establish. Labor commits $10 billion to Infrastructure Australia Mr Shorten will also outline a policy to expand the role of IA, the authority which advises the Federal Government on the country's infrastructure needs, allowing it to take a more active role in infrastructure projects. Under the plan, Labor would commit $10 billion to IA, allowing the body to provide guarantees, loans or equity to help start new projects. The Opposition said the new-look organisation would encourage private sector investment, including from superannuation funds, and would only fund projects expected to deliver a return. "Long-term national projects should not be at the mercy of short-term political timetables or petty partisanship," Mr Shorten's speech says. "Labor will improve the way all infrastructure projects are assessed, structured and selected to secure a bankable, stable pipeline of long-term work. "Labor will empower Infrastructure Australia to structure deals, engage private sector partners and work closely with state governments to take projects on the priority list from the drawing board to construction." Assistant Treasurer Kelly O'Dwyer said the Government welcomed Mr Shorten's infrastructure plan, but would wait with anticipation for further detail. "This latest idea from the Leader of the Opposition adds to a list of ideas that count for more than $50 billion worth of spending," Ms O'Dwyer said. "So we also look forward to the Leader of the Opposition outlining how it is that he will pay for these ideas." 10 projects Labor would back * Rail line to Sydney's Badgerys Creek airport, connecting the Western and Inner West and South lines * Melbourne's Metro Rail * Brisbane's Cross River Rail project * Gold Coast Light Rail stage two * Ipswich Motorway * Pacific Highway * Queensland's Bruce Highway * Tasmania's Midland Highway * Electrification of the Gawler rail line in Adelaide * Pledge to support public transport in Perth, possibly the State Opposition's Metronet plan

I find it particularly interesting that Shorten proposes to de-politicise infrastructure by giving Infrastructure Australia a greater role in deciding which projects to construct. This is a better approach than the petty politics that occurs at present. No more will we see idiocy such as Abbott's jihad against urban rail without stating any reasons.

If he had have said affordable government housing for the strugglers, he would win hands down.

Bam wrote on Oct 8^th, 2015 at 10:22am:

Bill Shorten to announce 10 infrastructure projects Labor will back if they win next election Quote: Federal Labor is vowing to support a rail link to Sydney's new airport as well as Melbourne's Metro Rail project if the party wins the next election. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will today announce 10 infrastructure projects Labor would back in government. The short-list features five projects in Queensland, including Brisbane's Cross River Rail and Gold Coast's Light Rail stage two. "Building these projects is Labor's priority, because building infrastructure creates jobs," Mr Shorten will tell the Queensland Media Club. "Australia's infrastructure deficit is an economic challenge that demands national leadership. "A new Labor government will ensure the Commonwealth funding to get these projects underway and completed as soon as possible is found in the current infrastructure budget." The ALP would submit the projects to Infrastructure Australia (IA) for assessment under a new process the party would establish. Labor commits $10 billion to Infrastructure Australia Mr Shorten will also outline a policy to expand the role of IA, the authority which advises the Federal Government on the country's infrastructure needs, allowing it to take a more active role in infrastructure projects. Under the plan, Labor would commit $10 billion to IA, allowing the body to provide guarantees, loans or equity to help start new projects. The Opposition said the new-look organisation would encourage private sector investment, including from superannuation funds, and would only fund projects expected to deliver a return. "Long-term national projects should not be at the mercy of short-term political timetables or petty partisanship," Mr Shorten's speech says. "Labor will improve the way all infrastructure projects are assessed, structured and selected to secure a bankable, stable pipeline of long-term work. "Labor will empower Infrastructure Australia to structure deals, engage private sector partners and work closely with state governments to take projects on the priority list from the drawing board to construction." Assistant Treasurer Kelly O'Dwyer said the Government welcomed Mr Shorten's infrastructure plan, but would wait with anticipation for further detail. "This latest idea from the Leader of the Opposition adds to a list of ideas that count for more than $50 billion worth of spending," Ms O'Dwyer said. "So we also look forward to the Leader of the Opposition outlining how it is that he will pay for these ideas." 10 projects Labor would back * Rail line to Sydney's Badgerys Creek airport, connecting the Western and Inner West and South lines * Melbourne's Metro Rail * Brisbane's Cross River Rail project * Gold Coast Light Rail stage two * Ipswich Motorway * Pacific Highway * Queensland's Bruce Highway * Tasmania's Midland Highway * Electrification of the Gawler rail line in Adelaide * Pledge to support public transport in Perth, possibly the State Opposition's Metronet plan

IN keeping with the Rudd plan of announcing projects that had been announced previously or worse, already being constructed, a few of these are already in the works. A promise to build a railway line to a non-existent airport is certainly adventurous, particularly since it was part of the original proposal for the airport anyhow.

I approve of infrastructure building but SA got nothing more than the electrification of a line already being planned anyhow, WA got a generic promise to 'do something' and NT got nothing.

Barely a passing grade.

Well, the LNP idea is to cut the infrastructure program heaps, then announce projects as if they are new.

The SA govt can’t electrify the Gawler line without commonwealth help, then there are the Blackwood, Pt Adelaide and Grange lines. The Overlander line really needs to be rerouted north of Adelaide, the Hills line not really being suitable.

mariacostel wrote on Oct 8^th, 2015 at 11:47am:

Bam wrote on Oct 8th, 2015 at 10:22am: Bill Shorten to announce 10 infrastructure projects Labor will back if they win next election Quote: Federal Labor is vowing to support a rail link to Sydney's new airport as well as Melbourne's Metro Rail project if the party wins the next election. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will today announce 10 infrastructure projects Labor would back in government. The short-list features five projects in Queensland, including Brisbane's Cross River Rail and Gold Coast's Light Rail stage two. "Building these projects is Labor's priority, because building infrastructure creates jobs," Mr Shorten will tell the Queensland Media Club. "Australia's infrastructure deficit is an economic challenge that demands national leadership. "A new Labor government will ensure the Commonwealth funding to get these projects underway and completed as soon as possible is found in the current infrastructure budget." The ALP would submit the projects to Infrastructure Australia (IA) for assessment under a new process the party would establish. Labor commits $10 billion to Infrastructure Australia Mr Shorten will also outline a policy to expand the role of IA, the authority which advises the Federal Government on the country's infrastructure needs, allowing it to take a more active role in infrastructure projects. Under the plan, Labor would commit $10 billion to IA, allowing the body to provide guarantees, loans or equity to help start new projects. The Opposition said the new-look organisation would encourage private sector investment, including from superannuation funds, and would only fund projects expected to deliver a return. "Long-term national projects should not be at the mercy of short-term political timetables or petty partisanship," Mr Shorten's speech says. "Labor will improve the way all infrastructure projects are assessed, structured and selected to secure a bankable, stable pipeline of long-term work. "Labor will empower Infrastructure Australia to structure deals, engage private sector partners and work closely with state governments to take projects on the priority list from the drawing board to construction." Assistant Treasurer Kelly O'Dwyer said the Government welcomed Mr Shorten's infrastructure plan, but would wait with anticipation for further detail. "This latest idea from the Leader of the Opposition adds to a list of ideas that count for more than $50 billion worth of spending," Ms O'Dwyer said. "So we also look forward to the Leader of the Opposition outlining how it is that he will pay for these ideas." 10 projects Labor would back * Rail line to Sydney's Badgerys Creek airport, connecting the Western and Inner West and South lines * Melbourne's Metro Rail * Brisbane's Cross River Rail project * Gold Coast Light Rail stage two * Ipswich Motorway * Pacific Highway * Queensland's Bruce Highway * Tasmania's Midland Highway * Electrification of the Gawler rail line in Adelaide * Pledge to support public transport in Perth, possibly the State Opposition's Metronet plan IN keeping with the Rudd plan of announcing projects that had been announced previously or worse, already being constructed, a few of these are already in the works. A promise to build a railway line to a non-existent airport is certainly adventurous, particularly since it was part of the original proposal for the airport anyhow. I approve of infrastructure building but SA got nothing more than the electrification of a line already being planned anyhow, WA got a generic promise to 'do something' and NT got nothing. Barely a passing grade.

Rubbishing the proposal because most of the states only had one proposal is rather a poor response. When you divide six (states) into ten (projects), the quotient is less than two.

It's not likely that these would be the only infrastructure proposals that would be initiated in the medium term (five years) regardless of who is in government.

I find the large number of projects in Queensland to be interesting. Did Newman neglect infrastructure during his time in office? Or are there more proposals we haven't heard about and the Queensland bias in the announcements is due to the fact that Shorten was giving a speech in Brisbane?

Neglecting infrastructure is part of the neocon disease. After all, money spent on infrastructure is money that can’t be used to give tax cuts to overpaid CEOs. Just think of Howard raiding infrastructure, education and health budgets to give bigger surpluses so big tax cuts could be given to the CEOs etc.

Jovial Monk wrote on Oct 8^th, 2015 at 12:11pm:

Well, the LNP idea is to cut the infrastructure program heaps, then announce projects as if they are new.

It's fairly typical for both major parties to indulge in ribbon-cutting politics where they claim credit for project completion no matter which party actually started that project. It would be quite a refreshing change if a major party actually acknowledged the other side's contribution to projects where the timeline of that project included a change of government or even just support for the project. I suspect we will be waiting a while.

Bam wrote on Oct 8^th, 2015 at 4:36pm:

Jovial Monk wrote on Oct 8th, 2015 at 12:11pm: Well, the LNP idea is to cut the infrastructure program heaps, then announce projects as if they are new. It's fairly typical for both major parties to indulge in ribbon-cutting politics where they claim credit for project completion no matter which party actually started that project. It would be quite a refreshing change if a major party actually acknowledged the other side's contribution to projects where the timeline of that project included a change of government or even just support for the project. I suspect we will be waiting a while.

That is not what I was talking about.

But, yeah, the lowlife LNP MHRs who had been badmouthing the BER program were ALWAYS there at the official ribbon cutting ceremony  ;) :)

Bam wrote on Oct 8^th, 2015 at 4:36pm:

Jovial Monk wrote on Oct 8th, 2015 at 12:11pm: Well, the LNP idea is to cut the infrastructure program heaps, then announce projects as if they are new. It's fairly typical for both major parties to indulge in ribbon-cutting politics where they claim credit for project completion no matter which party actually started that project. It would be quite a refreshing change if a major party actually acknowledged the other side's contribution to projects where the timeline of that project included a change of government or even just support for the project. I suspect we will be waiting a while.

Like Shorten announcing he wants to upgrade the Pacific Highway which is currently in the process of being upgraded?

But you are right. Politics precludes acknowledging your predecessors accomplishments.