April 7, 2025
A Coalition Government has promised to reinstate the 80:20 Federal funding split for nationally significant road projects in regional and remote Australia if elected at the upcoming Federal Election.
Federal Member for Flynn Colin Boyce said the current Federal Government had cut and delayed more than $30 billion worth of infrastructure projects, and abolished critical road programs such as Bridges Renewal and Roads of Strategic Importance.
“The Albanese Government ignored warnings from an independent review of federal road funding that scrapping the 80:20 funding formula would result in reduced investment in regional roads, and that is exactly what we have seen under Labor,” Mr Boyce said.
“Despite the obvious need of our regions, the Albanese Labor Government cut the Commonwealth contribution for regional roads to just 50 per cent.”
Mr Boyce said the Coalition’s plan to restore 80:20 funding for regional road projects would incentivise State Governments to partner upgrades to freight routes.
The Bridges Renewal program was scrapped in the 2024 Federal Budget, with projects rolled over into a new Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program.
This new program began on July 1 last year and also included the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program.
