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What’s in the budget for Victoria?

Article image for What’s in the budget for Victoria?

Victoria’s decision to dump the East West Link has delivered $1.5 billion in infrastructure spending in the federal budget.

The budget contains a package of road and rail measures paid for mostly with money that was already sitting on the state’s budget for the project.

The new projects include upgrades to the Monash Freeway, an additional lane in each direction on the Tullamarine Freeway and the widening of the M80 ring road.

Victoria has also received $857 million towards the Melbourne Metro rail project using money raised through the asset recycling scheme following the sale of the Port Melbourne lease.

The state Labor government had hoped for new infrastructure money in the budget.

‘Let’s be very clear though – this is not new money, this is money that was always going to come to Victoria,’ Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan told reporters before the budget.

‘This money was coming to Victoria as a result of the asset recycling scheme.’

Other commitments in the budget include $300 million over four years for pre-construction works on the Melbourne to Brisbane inland railway.

Victoria will also receive $151 million over four years for the St Albans rail grade separation and $20 million to upgrade rail lines in the Murray Basin.

WHAT’S IN THE FEDERAL BUDGET FOR VICTORIA…

  • $1.5 billion for road and rail upgrades – Victoria must match dollar-for-dollar – using money previously allocated for the dumped East West Link.
  • $857 million for the Melbourne Metro rail project using money raised through the asset recycling scheme with the sale of the Port Melbourne lease.
  • $300 million over four years for pre-construction works on the Melbourne to Brisbane inland railway.
  • $151 million over four years for the St Albans rail grade separation.
  • $20 million to upgrade rail lines in the Murray Basin.
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