· Report notes concern about capacity to undertake capital projects
· Government claims on infrastructure investment not supported by the facts
· Liberals fail to deliver budgeted infrastructure spend
Analysis of infrastructure projects led by government departments confirms the Liberals are failing to deliver.
Shadow Infrastructure Minster Shane Broad said the Auditor-General’s Report on the Financial Statements of State entities notes a four-year trend of below-budget capital expenditure.
“The Auditor-General has taken the frankly astonishing step of publicly calling into question Will Hodgman’s ability to fulfil his infrastructure promises,” said Dr Broad.
In his report, the Auditor-General expressed concern about the failure in recent years of government departments to stick to promised project timeframes, and added:
‘This concern is amplified given the Government’s intention to significantly increase infrastructure investment for departments between 2019-20 and 2022-23 as announced in the 2019-20 State Budget.’
Rod Whitehead, Auditor General
“Over the past four years, the Department of State Growth has underspent its capital budget by a total $274 million. In just the past 12 months, the Department of Education delayed $30 million of school upgrades.”
Dr Broad said infrastructure spending during the last 5 years of the Labor Government was nearly $100 million greater than the five years of Will Hodgman’s Government.
“Cuts and budget mismanagement by this government are why we’re seeing long delays to crucial infrastructure including the Bridgewater Bridge, the Royal Hobart Hospital and the new TT-Line vessels.
“It is clear the Government has neither the will nor the skill to deliver the large infrastructure projects that are so crucial to state growth, job creation and provision of services.
“This underspend also makes a mockery of Will Hodgman’s claims that the $1.1 billion of debt in the last Liberal Budget was for infrastructure projects.”
Shane Broad
Shadow Infrastructure Minister
