Anthony Albanese says the coalition government lost its victory when it came to funding infrastructure projects.
When asked why the Prime Minister was prioritizing the North East Link over an airport train, the Prime Minister said this project on its own merits was vital to Melbourne's missing links.
“This project is here, it is real and it is now. We want to support this project, Victoria was missing this project,” he said.
Here's what else he had to say about infrastructure spending in the state:
Victoria's share of infrastructure investment fell to just over 8% of the national budget. Victoria is a growing state, Melbourne is a growing city, this is a great project and we are proud to contribute to it.
This is a great project, this is a vital piece of the missing links here in Melbourne as Premier [Jacinta Allan] He said, it's not just about where we are now and the magnificent tunnels that are going to be built here, but the other improvements that are going to happen.”
On the delayed Melbourne Airport rail link, he said the airport should “get serious about getting things done”.
“There is no agreement with the airport… them [the airport] they think they operate in a way that they forget about their social license,” he said.
Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas said the government expected Melbourne Airport Rail to be four years behind schedule, although a mediator has recently been appointed to negotiate a dispute over the project.
The airport wants to build a station at Tullamarine underground, but the State Government is refusing because it says it will be too expensive.
Victoria and the Commonwealth have each committed $5 billion to the project.
