INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING DEADLINE APPROACHING

Rail Upgrades Needed to Improve Productivity

The Tasmanian Greens today sought reassurance from the Infrastructure Minister David O’ Byrne that his Department was making a submission to the Infrastructure Australia process and that, unlike his pre-election predecessor, the state’s submission would meet Federal criteria.

Greens Infrastructure spokesperson Tim Morris MP said that the deadline for submissions for the current round of funding is approaching, and Tasmania cannot afford to squander this opportunity to continue to improve the state’s rail infrastructure and improve the state’s productivity.

“There are lingering concerns after the Minister O’Byrne’s pre state-election predecessor failed to make an appropriate funding application in time, causing huge embarrassment and possibly missing out on funding as a result,” Mr Morris said.

“There’s no doubting that Hobart Port’s rail infrastructure is desperately in need of further improvement, and the existing Infrastructure Australia funding will be exhausted in the not too distant future.”

“The Minister must guarantee that the State’s submission to the Infrastructure Australia process will meet the necessary standards and requirements, and will be submitted on time.”

“We cannot afford for this to be a missed opportunity to improve productivity and take pressure off the state’s roads by shifting more freight by rail.”
Tim Morris MP Greens Infrastructure Spokesperson