Budget promises need to be part of bigger plan Wednesday, 04 May 2016

Last night's federal budget promises billions of dollars for infrastructure, defence, innovation and education but Engineers Australia says, while these investments are welcome, they must be part of a long-term national plan.

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said the government was delivering $50 billion for infrastructure but that covered the period back from 2013-14 through to 2019-20. Some of the biggest ticket items were up to $6.7 billion to upgrade the Bruce Highway in Queensland, $5.6 billion for Pacific Highway duplication in NSW, $1.7 billion for the North-South corridor in Adelaide, a $1.5 billion Victorian Infrastructure Package including upgrades to the Monash Freeway and M80 Ring Road among others, $869 million for the Northlink WA road project, $857 million for the Melbourne Metro rail project, $594 million for the inland freight rail project connecting Brisbane with Melbourne, and $400 million for the Midland Highway in Tasmania.

Engineers Australia CEO Stephen Durkin said accelerated and targeted infrastructure investments such as these are very welcome, but these major projects must be part of a long-term national plan in order to deliver best value and be truly fit for purpose.

“Engineers Australia urges governments to work towards an integrated system of cities and regional centres – supported by smart infrastructure, quality centres of learning and local job hubs – to meet the challenges of the 21st century,” he said, adding that the organisation's recent National Infrastructure Investment Update found the current approach will not meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the nation.

“It is critical that Australian industry has visibility of a pipeline of work and that we depoliticise infrastructure investment in favour of a long term, truly bipartisan approach to funding nation-building projects,” he said.

Minister for Industry Innovation and Science Christopher Pyne said the Government was making strong progress towards implementing its $1.1 billion National Innovation and Science Agenda (NISA) and Education Minister Simon Birmingham said the Government’s investment in education, training and child care will increase to more than $41.8 billion in 2016-17.

“The innovation measures already underway are an important step in supporting Australia’s shift to a knowledge-based economy," Durkin said.

"In response to cuts that have been signalled for the tertiary sector, Engineers Australia is concerned about the continued uncertainty for universities and fee pressures faced by students – the nation’s future innovators.

“Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills are critical to Australia’s transformation to the innovative, high-tech economy Engineers Australia envisages for the future. A further $2 billion in savings to be found from higher education would undermine that future of knowledge-based prosperity.”

[Roadwork in Western Australia. Photo: FreeImages.com/Vaughan Willis]

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