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The Shadow Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Anthony Albanese has weighed-in to the Pacific Highway funding debate by claiming the Coalition Government has waged a “propaganda campaign it is planning to conceal its failures on infrastructure investment”.
Mr Albanese claims Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures show infrastructure investment has decreased by 20 per cent since the election of the Coalition government, and Malcolm Turnbull has authorised an $18million advertising campaign to pretend otherwise.
“A Senate budget estimates committee heard this week that the media campaign would include taxpayer-funded newspaper and television advertisements, concerning 88 different government projects,” Mr Albanese said.
“According to the Government’s Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook document, the advertising campaign will be funded out of the existing infrastructure budget.
“The Pacific Highway is New South Wales’ key road, providing a critical link between Sydney and the regional centres all the way up the state’s northern coast.
“Its upgrade must be completed as quickly as possible to make the highway safer and secure the efficiency improvements that will underwrite future economic and jobs growth in NSW.
“Despite pre-election promises to boost investment in the Pacific Highway, the Turnbull Government has cut funding – a fact reflected in the ABS figures showing a decline in investment right around Australia.
“The people of NSW pay taxes so governments can actually build roads, railway lines and other infrastructure, not to construct fiction to hide government failures.”