$2.5 billion infrastructure boost for the Northern Territory

In the 2022-23 Federal Budget, the Australian Government is delivering on almost $2.5 billion of election commitments for vital infrastructure projects in the Northern Territory.

This includes:

$1.5 billion in planned equity to support the construction of common user marine infrastructure within the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct, providing a pathway to a decarbonised economy by helping emerging clean energy industries,
$440 million in planned equity to support the development of regional logistic hubs
$350 million of additional funding to seal the Tanami Road and upgrading Central Arnhem Road
$332 million towards the NT Strategic Roads Package

Developing marine infrastructure at Middle Arm will open new export opportunities in Northern Australia for commodities such as green hydrogen and critical minerals, with associated downstream opportunities for onshore processing and low-emission manufacturing.

Additional funding for the Tanami Road and Central Arnhem Road will continue strategic upgrades to support Indigenous and remote communities and businesses, improving flood immunity and reliability, making good on our election commitment to deliver significant new funding.

Our decisions will create jobs, give more reliable access to services such as health and education, as well as open up opportunities for business to grow.

The Australian Government will work with the Northern Territory Government, industry, the local community and remote First Nations communities to develop a sustainable growth plan for Middle Arm, with a view to further announcements next year on implementation of this planned equity investment.

A BETTER WAY

The Albanese Government wants infrastructure that leaves a lasting legacy. Our first budget will honour the pledges we made to voters in urban and regional Australia while also managing the economy in an uncertain global environment.

The budget takes an important first step in ensuring the Commonwealth’s infrastructure spending is responsible, affordable and sustainable.

It also starts making up for nearly a decade of waste and missed opportunities.

The former Government made promises without ever thinking about how to deliver them, often not even talking to the state and territory government they would later rely on to partner with.

They promised car parks that could never be built, and also tripled the budget for Inland Rail and blew out the timetable.

They sidelined, ignored and then stacked the Infrastructure Australia Board with political appointments.

And for years they pretended money was in the budget for zombie projects such as the East-West link in Melbourne and the Perth Freight Link.

We are putting sense back into infrastructure planning and delivery.

We are once again making Infrastructure Australia the premier body to advise Australian governments on our significant infrastructure gaps and opportunities.

And we are cleaning up the Coalition’s mess in the Inland Rail project, and bringing transparency and accountability back into this critical macroeconomic portfolio.

INFRASTRUCTURE IN AN UNCERTAIN GLOBAL ECONOMIC CLIMATE

Infrastructure is an important driver of economic growth, productivity and skills in the regions and cities, but the Government was left with an unsustainable pipeline of projects designed purely to look good on paper but never be built.

Our first budget takes an important step to make our infrastructure pipeline more sustainable and to ensure we don’t further strain a sector already facing labour constraints, inflationary pressures and cost increases due to supply chain challenges.

The decisions we have made will ensure the sector is in a strong position to help buffer any global headwinds, and create a sustainable pathway for building the skills needed into the future.

They will also contribute to repairing the budget after the Coalition left Australia with a trillion dollars of debt.

Infrastructure is critical to building the nation we all want. Opportunity and connection come from good infrastructure. Making good decisions now is critical to making sure no one is held back and no one is left behind.

Comments attributed to Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese:

“Sound and planned infrastructure investment creates jobs, builds opportunity and unlocks economic growth and productivity. Resilient and reliable transport is the backbone of the nation.

“Investing in common user marine infrastructure at Middle Arm and regional logistic hubs will support the growth in regional decarbonised industries and resilient supply chains which will strengthen both the NT and National Economy.

“Remote Australia is dependent on good, safe roads for accessing essential services, getting to work, or welcoming tourists.

“Sadly, remote roads still have a death toll 11 times higher than those in major cities.

“These investments will give remote communities the connections they deserve, allowing more people to get around with greater safety.”

Comments attributable to Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

“These investments will ensure local communities have year-round access to the services they need.

“The Australian Government is working closely with state and territory governments to deliver the projects that bring most benefit to communities around Australia.

“Through its first Budget, our Government is getting on with the job working collaboratively with all levels of Government and in consultation with Infrastructure Australia to deliver projects that will make a real difference to the lives of all Australians.”