Alan Tudge is using his Urban Congestion Fund to pork barrel Liberal seats rather than strategically address Perth’s congestion problems.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Catherine King said that new information released at Senate Estimates reveals all of the electorate-specific projects in Greater Perth are in Liberal-held seats.
This is pork barrelling of the highest order. Is there no traffic congestion in any part of Cowan, Perth, Fremantle, Burt and Brand?
Perth commuters face on average an hour in traffic each day with traffic congestion costing the Perth economy $1.5billion a year.
Without action, Infrastructure Australia predicts the cost will more than double to $3.6 billion a year by 2031.
18 month ago, the Liberals announced the Urban Congestion Fund with great fanfare.
Since then they’ve talked a huge game about ‘busting congestion’ and ‘getting commuters home sooner and safer’ but it’s just another exercise in looking after their mates.
Despite all the talk, Alan Tudge didn’t spend a cent from the Urban Congestion Fund in 2018-19.
In contrast, Matthias Cormann signed off on $16.9 million for taxpayer-funded pre-election advertising in the lead up to the election.
Instead of talking about building roads, the Liberals must get to work on a real plan for infrastructure to create jobs, improve productivity and bust congestion.