Page 3639 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 22 November 2022
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I will start with a recap of the history of the funding this motion covers. Federal funding of $85.9 million was allocated to road projects in the ACT. But much of that funding was not funding the ACT had requested nor was it funding that had been strategically and carefully considered in view of the ACT’s transport needs. It looked an awful lot like funds that were poorly scoped and hastily pledged ahead of an election, with no policy background, no consideration of the ACT’s transport needs and no view to climate action.
The bulk of the funding was the proposed $50 million for the south-west corridor upgrade. In the ACT, $50 million is a lot of money. I would typically expect a lot of careful policy work ahead of a new announcement for $50 million. Is that what we saw? No.
The first anyone heard of this south-west corridor project was on 5 October 2020, two weeks ahead of the ACT election. Former Senator Seselja announced $50 million for this south-west corridor. There was no policy work and no details released with the announcement. The costings were submitted after the announcement was made. If you look at the 2020 ACT election costings from the Canberra Liberals, you can see that Alistair Coe submitted his costings on 14 October 2020, a few days ahead of the election. The work was vague and the dollar figures were not justified.
This was meant to be an ACT transport project, a major project, but it was apparently led by a federal senator in a policy void. I am going to read a select quote from the request for costings to show just how vague the bid was:
What are the key assumptions that have been made in the proposal? The package is expected to include the development of a corridor plan, and individual projects consistent with this plan that are prioritised and agreed between the Australian and ACT governments. Subject to planning outcomes, projects could include upgrades to the Tuggeranong Parkway, could include improvements to intersections and feeder roads along the corridor, or pavement rehabilitation along the Parkway.
This $50 million bid was launched in the absence of proper policy work. It did not even specify which roads were needed nor why. The south-west corridor project was no project at all. It was simply a list of possible things created in a policy vacuum announced two weeks out from an election and costed a few days out from an election.
There are two other aspects of road’s funding covered in this motion. The first is Boboyan Road. This is a regional road, and there is a clear need, with really well-developed policy, for these upgrades. But this project should be treated as it would be if it were in New South Wales. This Assembly passed a motion earlier this year for an 80-20 funding split for the road. That means we agreed to seek federal government funding for 80 per cent of the cost. Ms Lee has also agreed to seek this, as have the Canberra Liberals. So I am confused about what this motion means today. Have the Canberra Liberals abandoned the position that we should get 80 per cent of the funding from federal government?
The other aspect of this motion is about Pialligo Avenue. I have not yet seen the case made out as to whether duplicating Pialligo Avenue is our best and highest priority,
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