Building Australia

Investing in infrastructure in our cities and regions

The Government is committing over $70 billion from 2013-14 to 2020-21 to transport infrastructure across Australia, using a combination of grant funding, loans and equity investments.

The Government is establishing a 10-year allocation for funding road and rail investments, recognising that many transformational projects are planned and built over many years. This will deliver $75 billion in infrastructure funding and financing from 2017-18 to 2026-27.

This Budget expands the use of equity and debt financing to boost the Government’s infrastructure investment.

New road and rail investments

The Government is establishing a $10 billion National Rail Program to fund regional and urban rail investments. The Government is also providing $500 million for Victorian regional passenger rail, including $100 million for a Geelong Rail Line Upgrade. A further $20.2 million is also being provided for Murray Basin Rail and $30 million to help plan a Tullamarine airport rail link.

In Queensland, the Government is providing $844 million for new Bruce Highway priority projects, including for a Pine River to Caloundra upgrade.

In Western Australia, the Government is providing $1.6 billion towards a $2.3 billion road and rail infrastructure package with the Western Australian Government. The package includes a combined $1.2 billion towards the METRONET rail project and $100 million for better road access to the Fiona Stanley Hospital precinct.

Western Sydney Airport

The Government is providing up to $5.3 billion establishing WSA Co to develop Western Sydney Airport.

Works will commence by late 2018 and airport operations by 2026, creating 20,000 jobs.