Despite big promises, it is becoming increasingly clear that Scott Morrison’s latest infrastructure announcements are another case of this government overpromising and underdelivering.
Today marks 40 days since Scott Morrison addressed CEDA’s State of the Nation Conference, telling Australians that “Today I announce a priority list of 15 major projects that are on the fast-track for approval”.
40 days later, only 5 of these projects have been announced.
One of these projects is Inland Rail, a project begun under the last Labor government. After 7 years of coalition government, the final route of this integral project is still yet to be finalised.
This latest disappointing announcement comes as the latest ABS figures show construction work continues to fall in Australia.
With Australia’s unemployment rate climbing, now is the time for government investment in infrastructure projects. Investing now would both create much needed jobs and deliver productivity increases in the longer term.
This could include transformative, nation-building projects like high speed rail.
Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull both wanted to be remembered as infrastructure prime ministers, but they delivered nothing but empty promises. It seems like Scott Morrison is destined to go the same way.
This Government is great at the press release, but too often it has delivered nothing but disappointment.
FRIDAY, 24 JULY 2020