Rural Victorians have been short-changed by the Albanese Government in national funding intended to upgrade country bridges that enable heavy vehicle access to farms to ensure fodder and supplies are delivered to farms, and agricultural commodities can get to market.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie said by cutting funding to rural bridges and roads, Labor are once again demonstrating they do not understand the importance of agriculture in driving national economic growth and prosperity.
“In their first 18 months the Albanese Government has taken the axe to road funding in Victoria and now Labor is planning to abolish yet another road program specifically designed to support regional industries by fixing country bridges so they can safely carry heavy trucks,” Senator McKenzie said.
“Everywhere we look, State and Federal Labor have ruthlessly taken money out of regional road projects so they can fund their controversial $200 billion Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop project.”
“Despite having a quarter of the nation’s population, Victoria received a meagre 14.7 per cent of funding grants under the Bridges Renewal Program in 2023.”
Last November the Albanese Government announced $41 million in grants nationally, of which Victoria received only $1.6 million awarded to just two projects, in Indigo and Northern Grampians shires.
Bridges Renewal funding allocated for Victoria between 2022-23 and 2025-26 was halved by Labor, taking the funding share from $86.6 million in the Coalition’s March 2022 budget down to $44.6 million in the May budget.
Senator McKenzie said Labor started cutting the Bridges Renewal Program funding in its first two budgets but has now decided to abolish the program altogether.
“By cutting funding for Victorian bridge projects and abolishing the Bridges Renewal program altogether, the Albanese Government is setting the transport industry up for longer routes, putting a handbrake on productivity for our producers,” Senator McKenzie said.
“In last May’s budget, of the $95 million annual allocation to the program this year, the Albanese Government is only giving Victoria a paltry $4.5 million.
“It is as if Transport Minister Catherine King doesn’t understand we have creeks, streams and channels requiring bridges right throughout country Victoria, from the south-west, to the great dividing range, the Murray Darling Basin, the Dandenongs and through Gippsland.”
Bridges Renewal Program – budgeted funding 2022-23 to 2025-26 ($ million)
| 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | Total | |
| March 2022 Budget (Coalition) | 35.4 | 13.8 | 10.7 | 26.7 | 86.6 |
| May 2023 Budget
(Labor) |
19.3 | 4.5 | 10.4 | 10.4 | 44.6 |
Note: The annual budget of the Bridges Renewal Program under Labor is $95 million. Only $41 million in grants have been approved for the current 2023-24 year.