Investing in infrastructure

Rolling out our record $50 billion infrastructure plan

Infrastructure investment across Australia

The Government is investing in infrastructure in our cities and regions to reduce congestion, improve safety and better connect Australian products to domestic and international markets.

The Government is investing a record $50 billion from 2013-14 to 2019-20 in infrastructure to improve the economy's productive capacity.

There are currently over 1000 projects underway around Australia. These include roads, airports, bridges and passenger and freight rail.

In this Budget, the Government is committing to the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail project and providing $594 million in additional equity funding to the Australian Rail Track Corporation to buy land and to continue pre-construction activities.

The Government is also committing an additional $115 million to continue preparatory works for a Western Sydney airport at Badgerys Creek.

The Government will help upgrade Victorian roads and rail by reallocating $1.5 billion in funding — originally for the East West Link — subject to matching Victorian funding. This will include:

• the Murray Basin Freight Rail network;
• the Monash Freeway;
• the M80 Ring Road;
• a rural and regional roads package; and
• an urban congestion package.

The Government remains committed to the East West Link and our offer of $3 billion to the Victorian Government to deliver the project still stands.

In Western Australia, $490 million is being provided for the Forrestfield Airport Link and an additional $261 million is being provided for Section 2 of the Perth Freight Link.

Investing across the States and Territories, in the cities and the country, for today's and future generations

Asset Recycling Initiative

The Government has finalised or is close to finalising agreements under the Asset Recycling Initiative with four States and Territories worth $3.3 billion. These agreements will unlock over $23 billion in State and Territory infrastructure spending, including for the Sydney and Melbourne Metro projects.

High speed broadband

The Government is investing $29.5 billion in the National Broadband Network (NBN). It will be delivered sooner, at less cost to taxpayers and with improved affordability for consumers.

A multi-technology mix will match the right technology to the right location, make use of existing infrastructure where possible and seek to finish the network by 2020. The Government is investing $2 billion in the design, construction and launch of NBN's satellite service to ensure that Australians living and working in rural and remote Australia are not left behind.

More than 9.1 million homes and businesses will be connected or have construction underway in their neighbourhoods by the end of 2018. By the end of the rollout more than 12 million homes and businesses will be able to access the NBN.

Our North, Our Future

The Our North, Our Future: White Paper on Developing Northern Australia outlined the Government's plan to unlock the region's potential over the next two, five, 10 and 20 years.

The Government is investing over $6 billion in Northern Australia to improve roads, develop water resources, reduce regulatory burdens, build a sustainable workforce and ensure effective governance arrangements.

The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility will encourage and complement private sector investment by providing up to $5 billion in concessional financing.

This will support the construction of transformative economic infrastructure which will increase the north's productive capacity.

The Government is also investing $600 million to improve key roads and providing a $100 million Beef Roads Fund to improve cattle supply chains.