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Budget Means A Better Deal For NSW/ACT Motorists


Budget Means A Better Deal For NSW/ACT Motorists

Author: NRMADate: 14 May 2008

The Federal Budget has increased road funding in NSW/ACT by more than 15 per cent in 2008-09, meaning that many projects will be able to progress towards completion, NRMA President Alan Evans said today.

Mr Evans said transport funding had increased by 10 per cent nationally, bringing total spending to more than $3.2 billion - up from $2.9 billion.

"However, revenue from fuel excise has increased by $580 million to a whopping total of $15.04 billion, revealing a funding imbalance of more than $250 million which should be put back into roads," Mr Evans said.

"Petrol taxes should be spent on roads and the NRMA will be asking the Government to return this windfall in future."

The Budget continues to build on last year's Auslink 2 package of $22.3 billion, which represented the biggest ever investment in Australia's land transport network at that time.

"The NRMA asked the Rudd Government to meet its election commitments and invest in our road network and the Budget has delivered a better deal for motorists," Mr Evans said.

"The Rudd Government has put funding towards vital bypasses on the Pacific Highway and we understand that the Government has reaffirmed its election commitment to provide a total of $2.4 billion over the next five years to finally fix the nation's deadliest highway."

Major Pacific Highway projects include funding for the Ballina, Alstonville and Bulahdelah bypasses, all of which the NRMA has campaigned heavily for in recent years.

Mr Evans also welcomed the Government's commitment to provide $300 million in funding for the M4 extension in Sydney.

"The M4 extension will deliver 21st century road infrastructure, something Sydney desperately needs," Mr Evans said.

"The NRMA has also been campaigning hard for the upgrade of the Princes and Hume highways, as well as missing motorways like the F6 extension, M7 to F3 link and the F3 to Branxton link.

"We will continue to fight on behalf of motorists for these roads."

Mr Evans applauded the Government for addressing urban congestion in the Budget, with a $75 million package to unclog bottlenecks in major cities.

"The NRMA will work with the Government to ensure any future redesign of the Auslink program takes into account the huge impact of urban congestion on the economy."

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