Federal Budget 2012/13

[ozbob]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AlboMP/status/199680085366808576[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AlboMP/status/199680499227176960[/tweet]

[Gazza]

We have now delivered funding for all of Infrastructure Australia's first National Priority List

Could it mean??

[Golliwog]

We have now delivered funding for all of Infrastructure Australia's first National Priority List

Could it mean??

Forcing Mr Newman's hand on CRR? I don't think so. The National Priority List is released by IA each year, so I'm assuming this is last years list, when they also said CRR was at the Threshold stage. But I suppose we'll wait and see.

[Stillwater]

Standby for a revised list of IA priority projects:

http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Infrastructure-Australia-to-overhaul-priority-proj-pd20120507-U3Q6W?opendocument&src=rss

[ozbob]

Treasurer and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Tim Nicholls
08/05/2012

Federal Labor must commit to Queensland infrastructure

QUEENSLAND Treasurer Tim Nicholls said the Federal Government must invest in Queensland infrastructure if it wants to see improved economic growth nationally and a much-needed boost to business confidence.

Mr Nicholls said today's Federal Budget needed to include rock-solid commitments for Queensland projects, including a commitment to fund an upgrade of the Bruce Highway and funding for road, rail and port infrastructure.

"This LNP Government made a commitment to put $100 million each year into the upgrade of the Bruce Highway. The Federal Government needs to stop shirking its responsibility and dedicate serious money to improving this critical artery on Australia's east coast.

"Road, rail and port infrastructure upgrades are crucial to support our resource and agriculture sectors and achieving economic growth in both our state and national economies," he added.

Mr Nicholls also said speculation that the Federal Government may further cut the diesel fuel rebate would send shockwaves through the Queensland economy.

"Our resource sector is propping up the Australian economy and should not be hit with extra costs just because Federal Labor needs to find extra funds for its dodgy surplus figure.

"It is clear the Australian economy is still suffering from a lack of business confidence and moves to further punish our resources sector will continue to erode that confidence," he said.

Mr Nicholls said while a number of indicators released today show there are signs for a positive outlook for Queensland's economy, the Federal Government must do more to encourage confidence.

He noted Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showing a 1.7 per cent rise in dwelling approvals in Queensland in March and an encouraging 3.2 per cent seasonally adjusted rise in real turnover in retail over the March quarter.

However, the latest ANZ Job Advertisement Series data showed the number of job advertisements in Queensland fell 3.1 per cent in April to be 7.2 per cent lower over the year.

"The latest National Australia Bank Monthly Business Survey also showed national business conditions, trading conditions and the profitability index all deteriorated in April," Mr Nicholls said.

"Clearly the Federal Government needs to do more to boost confidence and one way to guarantee this is to commit to funding upgrades of our key infrastructure to remove choked ports and sub-standard transport links as a priority.

"The LNP government will grow a strong four-pillar economy, cut red tape and payroll tax to ensure businesses can get on with doing business and creating jobs for a stronger Queensland in the future," he said.

ENDS

[colinw]

Yet again, no reference to the North Coast Line. 

[Fares_Fair]

Yet again, no reference to the North Coast Line. 

Indeed colinw, noted that myself.
I wonder what rail project/s they refer to?

It does well and truly comply under the 'sub-standard transport links' line by Mr Nicholls.

[Stillwater]

Well, Queensland might get some IA money for the NCL if it put in a funding submission to the feds.

[Stillwater]

Summary of federal infrastructure spending for Qld in 2012-13:
http://www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au/aa/releases/2012/May/Budget-infra_09-2012.aspx

Note the map showing rail expenditure at the bottom of this media statement:
http://www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au/aa/releases/2012/May/Budget-infra_02-2012.aspx

[Fares_Fair]

Lots and lots of highway spending in this list, couldn't find any rail apart from the Moreton Bay Rail Link.

@rtt, the MBRL is certainly even less than intrastate and it gets federal funding.

[Jonno]

Road funding 12x rail funding Epic Failure Govt still blind to the Law of Congestion http://t.co/wzNDmrDq & $40B/yr in road trauma. 

[SurfRail]

@rtt, the MBRL is certainly even less than intrastate and it gets federal funding.

It was an election pork-barrel though, same as Epping to Parramatta. 

Neither of these projects would have got IA funding, and you can see how painful a subject the EPRL is for IA in their recent release about why they are not recommending any funding for the NWRL.

Agree that everybody has dropped the ball on the Sunshine Coast duplo and realignment.

[SurfRail]

Probably a topic for another thread, but perhaps it is time to consider moving our network (except for the area bounded by wherever TransLink contract services go and obviously the lines QRN were given) under the ARTC's control?

[Stillwater]

While worthy for consideration, Queensland would see it as an assault on state sovereignty.  Other states have seen the sense of it.  Remember also that ARTC put in a bid for 'below rails' operations on coal lines when Queensland had the great QRN sell-off as a vertically-integrated concern.

[HappyTrainGuy]

I don't see that happening due to the difference in rollingstock - track machines/vehicles/gauge etc. Pretty sure about 4 years ago QR won a 8 year 100 million dollar contract for providing maintenance for ARTC from Brisbane to pretty much Perth as they also won contracts from operators over there too haha

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Budget a 'lost opportunity' for infrastructure

Budget a 'lost opportunity' for infrastructure
May 9, 2012 - 3:00AM

Treasurer Wayne Swan has missed the opportunity to tackle Australia's infrastructure pipeline in Tuesday's budget, Australia's peak infrastructure body said last night.

In particular, southeast Queensland has not received any major new infrastructure funding in Mr Swan's cash plash to families, designed to win back family support.

And although highway funding in Queensland had been maintained, the RACQ was disappointed there were no new projects to fast-track repairs to the Bruce and Warrego highways.

Infrastructure Partnerships Australia chief executive Brendan Lyon said it was clear it was "not an infrastructure budget."

"It marks a lack of progress in terms of either the planning or delivery of major projects in southeast Queensland, in broader Queensland, and indeed right across the country," he said.

Before the federal budget, IPA had argued that it was timely to invest in infrastructure projects to reduce backlogs in ports and in traffic congestion around Australia.

Mr Lyon described the 2012-13 federal budget as a lost opportunity for infrastructure progress in Australia, with funding instead directed to families.

"There is modest investment in smaller projects, but in terms of the nationally significant infrastructure projects that you need to see, in terms of sorting out the kinks in the national supply supply chain, easing congestion pressure that are hampering national productivity, I have not seen any investments of note in this year's budget," he said.

"And I think that is a missed opportunity, given the productivity slide that Australia is facing."

Mr Lyon said the federal government had neglected its leadership role in infrastructure funding and called for a change in policy.

"Otherwise we are going to see more of the same, which going to mean an erosion of Australia's competitiveness," he said.

"And I think at the end of the day it will result in increasing costs in the costs of living, and increasing pressure in terms of business' ability to compete."

However, the federal government's promised $742 million contribution for the $1.147 billion Moreton Bay Rail Link project from Petrie to Kippa-Ring begins in the budget "out-years", Mr Lyon said.

"Yes, that is budgeted for 2015-16," he said.

Mr Lyon said the government had been "honest in its policy intent" to return the budget to surplus, but he said the downside of not investing in infrastructure was falling productivity.

RACQ external relations manager Paul Turner said the organisation was bitterly disappointed that the federal government had not taken the opportunity after last year's floods of 2011 to improve repairs.

Over the next four years, Queensland's highway building funds rises by $200 million, at about $50 million a year, from $8.5 billion to $8.7 billion.

''There is lot of funding there, we are not saying there is not money, we're saying there is nothing new,'' Mr Turner said.

''And without some serious remedial action, some major funding, Queensland is going backwards in this roads funding and that is what we are disappointed about.

"We're getting $50 million here, or $20 million here or an upgrade to blackspots funding there, but we are not getting the funding we need to fix that road system."

Mr Turner said revenue from the fuel excise had increased from $14.2 billion to $14.6 billion.

''We are getting additional return out of motorists, but we are not seeing the return to motorists from that funding,'' he said.

There was no funding for research on the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing, or issues to help Brisbane's rail capacity problems, he said.

However, Local Government Association chief executive Greg Hallam welcomed Queensland's $70 million share of $350 million in Roads to Recovery funding.

Mr Hallam said the decision to bring forward the first two quarterly instalments of Financial Assistance Grants payments would also help councils recovering from natural disasters.

"The FAGs funding is crucial to ensuring communities continue to have access to community services, enjoy their parks and gardens and are able to maintain local roads,'' he said.

"Bringing these payments forward will put councils on a firmer footing and help them better plan for the growth of their communities.

"The Budget also contains funding for the construction of the long-awaited Moreton Bay rail link as well as a range of improvements to the Bruce Highway, programs that are important to the growth of local economies."

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/budget-a-lost-opportunity-for-infrastructure-20120508-1yb6x.html

[ozbob]

Pork barrel political expediency has replaced long term infrastructure needs for our country.  Federal Labor has just consigned itself to oblivion IMHO.

The money for handouts is much better directed to infrastructure.  This is just a repeat of pink bats etc.  We are heading for a major meltdown.  Hopefully this mediocre government will be removed before the pork starts to flow ...

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

9 May 2012

Federal Budget is a con ...

Greetings,

The Federal Budget misses the infrastructure boat, bus and train.  More largess and short term political expediency.

Infrastructure needs are acute throughout Australia.  A much better strategy is to invest in infrastructure in the pipeline than more handouts designed for self-centred political expediency and focus on real nation building.

A tragedy in the making.   This will cost Australia dearly in lost productivity, congestion costs, environmental impacts, and rapid escalating road trauma costs.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Cash splash to calm carbon fears

[Stillwater]

Great minds think alike.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/budget-a-lost-opportunity-for-infrastructure-20120508-1yb6x.html

[ozbob]

No doubt about it, Federal politics is at its lowest point ever.  The kindest thing from here is for the independents to support a no confidence motion, and go to the electorate.

Problem with that though is most of them will probably not get re-elected (possible exception Windsor) so when push really comes to shove they wimp out.

I really don't think that the cash bonuses promised for July, next year mind you, will ever happen.

Be interesting what Premier Newman comes out with re the budget.   I think he has federal aspirations as well.  Time will tell ... lol

[Stillwater]

The potential for a 'perfect storm' arises when the federal and state governments simultaneously opt for surplus budgets.  Putting off worthwhile major infrastructure projects just means having to find even more money in future to build them.

[ozbob]

The potential for a 'perfect storm' arises when the federal and state governments simultaneously opt for surplus budgets.  Putting off worthwhile major infrastructure projects just means having to find even more money in future to build them.

Which makes the cash splash even more pointless and wasteful.  The money wasted on the roof insulation scheme for example would have more than covered the track amplification from Beerburrum to Nambour, with commensurate productivity and macro-economic benefits.  All the roof insulation scheme really did was burn billions of dollars, literally and metaphorically ...

[somebody]

No doubt about it, Federal politics is at its lowest point ever.

I agree and I think Slipper is far from the worst of the problems. *cough*

[ozbob]

Crikey --> Media Budget Wrap

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland transport projects short-changed by Federal Budget

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Pulling teeth better than Wayne Swan's 2012 Federal Budget according to social analyst David Chalke

[ozbob]

Treasurer and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Tim Nicholls
09/05/2012

The State Wayne Swan forgot

QUEENSLAND Treasurer and Minister for Trade Tim Nicholls said the Federal Budget was a disappointing result for Queensland.

"Queensland has received no funding for critical road, rail and port infrastructure across the state.

"Labor has turned its back on Queensland and failed to match the LNP Government's $1 billion ten-year commitment to upgrade the Bruce Highway.

"Instead it will direct $2.6 billion over the forward estimates to upgrade the Pacific Highway in NSW, in a cynical move to try and shore up support in the Labor marginal seats of Richmond and Page.

"It is also a pay-off for the support of the Independent MP for Lyne," Mr Nicholls said.

Mr Nicholls said it was disgraceful for Queensland to have to shoulder the infrastructure burden alone.

"Queensland provides a substantial proportion of the MRRT to the Federal Government yet none of that money has been returned to Queenslanders through funding for better roads and in frastructure.

"We have also suffered a cut of $2.5 billion in Specific Purpose Payments (SPP's) for the next financial year which will result in cuts to services like skills and workforce development, community services, affordable housing and environmental payments," Mr Nicholls said.

"Our nation's debt level will increase from $274 billion to $290 billion - a debt which will have to be paid for by all Queenslanders.

"Labor's Budget provided no clear plan how it would cement Australia's future economic growth, create jobs or boost confidence.

"The Gillard Government is taking from Queensland families and businesses - taking with the carbon tax, taking with a broken promise to lower company tax, taking through the MRRT and increasing debt.

"The LNP Government is committed to helping Queensland families and businesses by abolishing the waste levy, reintroducing stamp duty concessions for the family home, freezing car registration costs and freezing electricity tariffs.

"This is a very painful Federal Budget for Queenslanders for little or no gain and is particularly disappointing given Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan, as a Queenslander, should understand the infrastructure and funding challenges we face," Mr Nicholls said.

ENDS

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Campbell Newman says Wayne Swan has "dudded" his state with a Budget that does nothing for Queensland

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Budget counters 'neglect' of infrastructure

Budget counters 'neglect' of infrastructure
May 9, 2012 - 1:12PM

Federal Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese defended the highway and infrastructure funding for Queensland from the budget, saying it allowed existing projects to be completed.

It comes after criticism from the RACQ, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia and state treasurer Tim Nicholls that no new infrastructure projects received funding.

In a statement, Mr Albanese said the Labor Party was addressing what he described as "neglect" by the previous federal government.

"From the outset federal Labor's mission has been to reverse the neglect we inherited and invest in the modern, well-planned infrastructure that will make working people's lives easier, our businesses more competitive and the national economy stronger," he said.

"Not just for the next five years but for the next five decades."

Infrastructure Partnerships Australia chief executive Brendan Lyon said last night Treasurer Wayne Swan had missed an opportunity to invest in new infrastructure projects to reduce backlogs.

"There is modest investment in smaller projects, but in terms of the nationally significant infrastructure projects that you need to see, in terms of sorting out the kinks in the national supply supply chain, easing congestion pressure that are hampering national productivity, I have not seen any investments of note in this year's budget," Mr Lyon said.

Mr Nicholls accused Mr Albanese of re-directing funding to northern New South Wales to "shore up" three seats.

"Instead it will direct $2.6 billion over the forward estimates to upgrade the Pacific Highway in NSW, in a cynical move to try and shore up support in the Labor marginal seats of Richmond and Page," he said.

Mr Nicholls also accused Labor of backing Independent MP Rob Oakeshott who holds the seat of Lyne near Port Macquarie.

"It is also a pay-off for the support of the Independent MP for Lyne," Mr Nicholls said.

There were no new highway or infrastructure projects for Queensland included in last night's federal budget.

These already-announced projects received funding to start work:

    $742 million for the Moreton Bay Rail Link between Petrie and Kippa-Ring;
    $150 million for a new interchange at the intersection between the Bruce and Dawson Highways, the Calliope Crossroads near Gladstone;
    $50 million to straighten the Bruce Highway near Sarina;
    $100 million to straighten the Bruce Highway near Bundaberg;
    $20 million to straighten Bruce Highway between Bundaberg and Gin Gin;
    $70 million to extend the on-ramp from the southbound section of the Gateway Motorway to the Pacific Motorway; and widen Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road;
    $54 million to build the interchange at Blacksoil near Ipswich over the Warrego Highway;
    $18 million to put new electronic signs on the northern section of the Gateway Motorway from Nudgee to the Bruce Highway.

A series of projects will be completed in the next 12 months including widening the Ipswich Motorway, Townsville's Port Access Road, and two sections of the Bruce Highway near Cardwell and a section of the notorious Cooroy to Curra strip.

A concrete bridge over Cape York's Bloomfield River is also be completed.

A new general cargo wharf at Townsville and a new truck bypass near Cloncurry should also be finished this financial year.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/budget-counters-neglect-of-infrastructure-20120509-1ycb1.html

[Gazza]

I'm not really sure why Tim Nicholls is having such sour grapes over the Pacific Highway...That's been a long term project and there has been a commitment to have it done by 2016.
Personally I'm at the stage now where I just want to see the damn thing finished so we can move on to other projects across Aus.

[ozbob]

Cycling Promotion Fund --> http://www.cyclingpromotion.com.au/content/view/560/9/

Budget recognises active travel for nation building

Budget recognises active travel for nation building

The Australian budget has for the first time recognised the importance of thinking beyond traditional transport solutions to respond to the looming crises of congestion and productivity being faced by our cities.

The Cycling Promotion Fund applauds the new measures announced in the Budget that will:

    Pave the way for greater investment in Active travel (walking and cycling)
    Provide investment in public transport networks.

'Better planning and expansion of walking, bicycling and public transport capacity has been shown to increase our physical activity, improve our communities and save all Australians money in fuel, parking and future health costs', said CPF spokesman Stephen Hodge.

'We commend Minister Albanese on this initiative which builds on the National Urban Policy and will be rolled out under its Nation Building 2 program - Urban Living Stream'.

The Cycling Promotion Fund is a member of the Moving People 2030 Taskforce which will present a report later this year to provide a vision for an active and productive Australia in 2030 focussed on planning, land use and transport, and a roadmap for governments to achieve it.

The Taskforce is made up of the Australian Local Government Association, Australian Logistics Council, Australasian Railway Association, Bus Industry Confederation, Cycling Promotion Fund, National Heart Foundation, International Association of Public Transport, Planning Institute of Australia, and Tourism and Transport Forum.

[ozbob]

From The Telegraph click here!

Park the politics and get this highway built

Park the politics and get this highway built

    Anthony Albanese
    The Daily Telegraph
    May 14, 2012 12:00AM

IMAGINE loading the kids into the car in Brisbane, heading to Melbourne knowing that you will not face a single car, bus or truck coming the other way.

There'll be no overtaking risk with oncoming traffic, no fear of a tired truck driver veering over your side of the white line and every likelihood that you will arrive in one piece. You will have spent the entire trip on a fully duplicated highway, all 1700km.

This week, the federal government committed the final piece of Commonwealth funding to make that scenario a reality.

The Pacific Highway is one of Australia's most important roads. Each day and night, hundreds of heavy vehicles jostle for space with locals, holidaymakers and people who travel for business.

Since two bus crashes in 1989 left 56 people dead, almost 1000 others have lost their lives along the Pacific Highway. The sad white crosses remind us of that.

The federal government set aside $3.56 billion from this year's budget for the nation-building program. The proportion of this funding that is matched by the NSW government is available for the Pacific Highway. If matched, it will be enough to ensure the full duplication by 2016 and more workers can join the 1600 already upgrading the route.

Prior to last week's budget, the federal government had already committed three times more funding ($4.1 million) than the Howard government ($1.3 billion) during its 12 years at the helm.

No one is asking more of the NSW government than they demanded in opposition. In the Howard years, the constant call from the then NSW opposition was for NSW Labor to "match the federal funding".

I urge NSW to put politics aside. Road safety is at stake.

Anthony Albanese is the federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport

[somebody]

Hmm, interesting comments from Anthony Albanese.

I find it difficult to argue that a dual carriageway Pacific Highway is anything other than a good thing, and worth the $7bn it will apparently cost.

[Jonno]

I can. Just ask the Americans who can no longer afford to maintain their interstate highway system and kill
29,000 people a year on their roads. 

Duplicate this road in its entire length snd we will just see more people driving, more road deaths, more injured, more trauma, more trucks and higher maint cost. 

If you belive duplicating this road will save lives then enjoy lunch with the Easter Bunny, Santa and the Tooth Fairy at the Drop Bear Inn.

[Golliwog]

Jonno, as much as I agree with you about roads funding within built up areas, I can't agree with you here. It's fact that having high speed traffic in opposing directions seperated by nought but a painted white line leave little margin for error, with horrific consequences for getting it wrong. I've nearly been taken out by some tosser over taking a truck going the other way over a crest on the Bruce Highway in the middle of the night. I can't see how you can say with a straight face that seperating the opposing lanes of traffic won't save lives.

[Gazza]

I can. Just ask the Americans who can no longer afford to maintain their interstate highway system and kill
29,000 people a year on their roads. 

All western countries have national freeway networks, even in countries with really good rail networks.

And its not as if these highways will just get saturated with traffic on a day to day basis like some urban freeway. You drive on the Hume in vic and its fit for purpose, has been since the 80s, and won't need widening etc for a long long time.

I'm with Simon on this one, I don't see how having a duplicated highway linking the 3 biggest cities is a terrible thing. You play up the road toll, but what about the vast majority of people who are capable of using it safely and responsibly, and do their trips just fine.

I personally have driven down to Byron a couple of times since living up here. Geez, you make it sound as if I'm on a suicide mission going on the pacific highway down there, when in reality it was a pretty pleasant drive on a good road.

Driving has risks, but you make it sound inherently dangerous, as if injury is inevitable for everyone and we're all gonna die.

[Jonno]

1500 dead a year. The stats tell the story!!

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail Quest click here!

Federal budget should have shown closer attention to rail transport, public transport advocate Robert Dow says


http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2012/05/14/1226354/897242-dow.jpg

Robert Dow, spokesperson from Rail Back on Track, believes rail services should have been given more attention in the federal budget. Picture: Sarah Keayes Source: Quest Newspapers

Federal budget should have shown closer attention to rail transport, public transport advocate Robert Dow says

    by: Alana Scott, Springfield News
    From: Quest Newspapers
    May 15, 2012 12:01AM

Robert Dow, from Rail Back on Track, says the last week's Federal Budget provided only minor improvements for public transport users.

Mr Dow said the best news was a plan for the Moreton Bay rail link to be completed in 2015/16.

But he said fare affordability and frequency of services, particularly in the western corridor, still needed improvement.

"There wasn't much in the Budget in terms of rail infrastructure with respect to Queensland," Mr Dow said.

"There could have been a consideration for a Darra West to Redbank duplication which would then allow more express trains to run at peak and to cater for freight."

Mr Dow said money should be set aside to ensure service frequency on the new Springfield rail line and the Ipswich line was lowered to 15-minute intervals during non-peak periods.

Mr Dow said the Government and TransLink also needed to conduct a detailed review of the go card fare structure.

[somebody]

1500 dead a year. The stats tell the story!!

What will be the change with this project?  Few extra people using the highway, but increased safety on it.