The Government has committed $55 billion of funding towards new and existing infrastructure projects across Australia. Key infrastructure funding commitments include $2.2 billion for the Suburban Rail Loop East in Victoria, $866.4 million for the Bruce Highway upgrade in Queensland and $500 million for the Sydney to Newcastle High Speed Rail in New South Wales. The Government has also committed funding towards a number of community and mobile infrastructure initiatives across rural and regional Australia.
Infrastructure projects
Building a Better Future through considered Infrastructure Investment
The Government will provide $8.1 billion over 10 years from 2022-23 for priority rail and road infrastructure projects across Australia including:
- $2.6 billion for projects in Victoria, including $2.2 billion for the Suburban Rail Loop East;
- $2.1 billion for projects in Queensland, including:
- $866.4 million for the Bruce Highway;
- $400.0 million for the Inland Freight Route (Mungindi to Charters Towers) upgrades;
- $400.0 million for Beef Corridors; and
- $210.0 million for the Kuranda Range Road upgrade;
- 1.4 billion for projects in New South Wales, including:
- $500.0 million for planning, corridor acquisition and early works for the Sydney to Newcastle High Speed Rail;
- $268.8 million for the New England Highway – Muswellbrook Bypass; and
- $110.0 million for the Epping Bridge;
- $634.8 million for projects in Western Australia, including:
- $400.0 million for the Alice Springs to Halls Creek Corridor upgrade; and
- $125.0 million for electric bus charging infrastructure in Perth;
- $550.0 million for projects in the Northern Territory, including $350.0 million to seal the Tanami Road and Central Arnhem Road;
- $460.0 million for projects in South Australia, including $400.0 million for the South Australian component of the Freight Highway Upgrade Program;
- $250.0 million for Phase 4 of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program to support local councils;
- $80.0 million in additional funding for the Heavy Vehicle Rest Areas Program;
- $78.0 million for projects in Tasmania, including $48.0 million for the Tasmanian Roads Package;
- $18.0 million to establish the High Speed Rail Authority to plan, develop, coordinate, oversee and monitor the construction and operation of the high speed rail network; and
- $85.9 million for the Canberra Light Rail Stage 2A project.
The Government will cancel and reallocate $2.8 billion of funds from previous infrastructure projects including the Infrastructure Investment Urban Congestion Fund and Commuter Carpark Fund.
In addition, the Government will re‑profile $6.5 billion of funding for existing projects within the Infrastructure Investment Program.
Regional and Rural Australia
Responsible Investment to Grow Our Regions
The Government will provide $5.4 billion over 7 years from 2022–23 to support economic growth and development across regional Australia, including:
- $1.9 billion in equity investment for the development of the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct in the Northern Territory;
- $1.0 billion for the Priority Community Infrastructure Program to support community infrastructure projects across Australia;
- $1.0 billion for the Growing Regions Program and regional Precincts and Partnerships Program to support community and place-based investment in rural and regional Australia;
- $672.7 million towards enabling infrastructure in the Pilbara, Hunter and central Queensland regions to support emerging industries and economic transition;
- $349.9 million for the Investing in Our Communities Program to deliver small scale community, sport and infrastructure projects across Australia;
- $200.0 million towards the Cairns Marine Precinct and central Queensland University, Cairns Campus; and
- $22.0 million towards enabling infrastructure for the Lansdown Eco‑Industrial Precinct in Townsville.
Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia
The Government will redirect funding from previous budget measures and provide $757.7 million over 5 years from 2022–23 to improve mobile and broadband connectivity and resilience in rural and regional Australia, including:
- $400.0 million to support the roll out of mobile base stations;
- $200.0 million as part of the Regional Connectivity Program to fund the delivery of telecommunications infrastructure in regional, rural and remote Australia;
- $40.0 million to improve mobile coverage of the Mobile Black Spot Program to fund the building of new mobile infrastructure to improve mobile coverage and reception quality across Australia;
- $39.1 million for the Peri Urban Mobile Program to improve mobile reception in peri urban areas that are prone to natural disasters; and
- $20.0 million to conduct an independent audit of mobile coverage to better identify black spots and guide investment priorities.
Australian infrastructure Financing Facility for the pacific – expansion
The Government will improve the capacity of the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (the Facility) to support additional infrastructure investment in the Pacific and Timor-Leste, including:
- allocating an additional $500.0 million over 10 years from the existing Official Development Assistance program to support grants from the Facility;
- establishing a Pacific Climate Infrastructure Financing Partnership stream under the Facility, with $50.0 million in existing grant funding to support climate related elements of infrastructure and energy projects in Pacific countries and Timor-Leste; and
providing an additional $25.0 million over 4 years from 2022-23 to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to administer the Facility, including enhanced project and risk management capabilities.
