underspend on infrastructure continues
of progress on Hobart City Deal an embarrassment
all talk no action
A
lack of progress on major infrastructure projects is further proof that the
government is all talk and no action when it comes to infrastructure
investment.
Shadow
Minister for Infrastructure Shane Broad said the government’s track record of
infrastructure underspending and continual delays is hurting the state.
“How can the government spruik a COVID recovery building blitz, when they consistently fail to deliver big projects?
“The
Liberals have failed to spend almost a quarter of their budgeted infrastructure
funds, on average, each year they have been in government. That’s putting a
handbrake on job creation.
“Today,
the government is out celebrating the first year of the Hobart City Deal, when
all the progress report shows is another year of projects going nowhere fast.
“One
of the key elements, the Hobart airport roundabout upgrade, has hit further
delays, with the Government treating nearby landowners with contempt and
walking away from negotiations over land access.
“Other
projects outlined in the deal, including the Macquarie Point redevelopment and
Bridgewater Bridge replacement, are fodder for cartoonists and comedians, with
continual relaunches but little or no real progress. As well as this, Michael
Ferguson is still sitting on a report about the future of Light Rail.
“Michael
Ferguson is applying his trademark incompetence to the infrastructure
portfolio.
“For the sake of our state, for the sake of communities relying on these projects and for the sake of badly-needed jobs, the government needs to get on with it.”
Shane Broad
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure
