Roads have received around two-thirds of the $8.6 billion Australian Federal Government transport infrastructure budget.
The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) publicly announced its disappointment at the budget, which will see public spending in rail fall to just 5 per cent. Urban rail projects will be hit hardest, with funding falling from $514 million in 2014-15 to just $17 million in 2018-19.
Interim chairman Bob Herbert AM said rail transport in Australia was facing a “funding cliff”.
“Australia as a nation is facing increasingly serious economic, social and environmental problems with traffic congestion clogging our roads, transport emissions choking our urban environment, fluctuating fuel prices and the continued growth of our major cities.
“The Federal Government’s continued approach of prioritising roads over rail will not address the long-term transport needs of our growing cities.”
The budget does include $300 million for preliminary works on the Inland Rail project.
