Skip to main content

Australia’s infrastructure spending plans

In its federal budget announced on 13 May 2014, the Australian government announced plans for new infrastructure projects costing US$117.04 billion to keep the economy going after the mining boom ends. The new funding and existing projects are expected to boost infrastructure investment to US$47 billion by end of the decade. The government will invest US$11 billion to fast track infrastructure projects including US$3.4 billion for road projects, US$4.6 billion to asset-recycling fund for states and US$2.
May 14, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
In its federal budget announced on 13 May 2014, the Australian government announced plans for new infrastructure projects costing US$117.04 billion to keep the economy going after the mining boom ends. The new funding and existing projects are expected to boost infrastructure investment to US$47 billion by end of the decade.

The government will invest US$11 billion to fast track infrastructure projects including US$3.4 billion for road projects, US$4.6 billion to asset-recycling fund for states and US$2.7 billion for western Sydney's infrastructure plan. It already offered the New South Wales (NSW) government a concessional loan of US$1.8 billion to fund the WestConnex road project in western Sydney. Territories and states will get another US$4.6 billion in financing if they sell public assets and allocate them to productive infrastructures.

Meanwhile, the state government of Western Australia will invest US$22.19 billion over the next four years to build road networks, two fire stations, new hospitals and 19 new schools. The amount will include US$1.7 billion for public transport infrastructures and services. The state government expects to spend around US$277 million in 2014/2015 fiscal year and will allocate US$229 million in 2014 to acquire 124 buses and 22 three-car B-series railway wagons. The Perth Busport costing US$196 million is scheduled to be completed in 2016 and US$337 million Perth City Link project will be ready in 2014.

Related Content

  • ‘Shining moment of opportunity for tolling’
    May 5, 2021
    Climate change is already affecting tolling operations in many parts of the world. IBTTA’s Bill Cramer explains how the sector can be seen as a proven funding and financing mechanism for surface transportation
  • NYC transit system five-year plan rejected
    October 10, 2014
    The five-member New York State Capital Program Review Board has vetoed the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s 2015–2019 MTA Capital Plan which the MTA said would renew, enhance and expand the transportation network with a US$32 billion investment. The largest element of the program is safety and reliability projects worth US$22.2 billion to renew the MTA’s mass transit network. It also proposes investing US$4.3 billion in new technology, communications systems and railroad infrastructur
  • Governments must look beyond short-term spending of public funds
    February 2, 2012
    Phil Pettitt, Chief Executive of innovITS, the UK's ITS Centre of Excellence, argues that governments need to look beyond the short-term when looking to pump-prime economic recovery with public funds. It seems, in the current economic climate, that a 'good' day is one in which no company is announcing job cuts or going into administration. Consumer demand is down and businesses are retrenching, cutting costs and fretting over the consequences of shrinking opportunities and order books. It has not been this
  • House proposes US$10.5 billion eight-month highway bill
    July 10, 2014
    The US Government House Ways and Means Committee is proposing a US$10.5 billion, eight-month transportation funding bill to push the debate over road and transit spending into the next Congress. The proposal, which calls for a temporary extension of current transportation funding levels until 31 May 2015, comes as lawmakers try to come up with a way to replenish the Department of Transportation's depleted Highway Trust Fund before a predicted August bankruptcy date. The traditional funding source fo