Western Australian infrastructure jobs unlocked with $233M funding

The Federal and Western Australian Governments will support construction jobs across Western Australia by jointly investing an additional $223 million to deliver ready to go infrastructure projects and road safety upgrades.

Similarly to funding in Queensland, the Prime Minister said this investment would play an important role in the JobMaker plan and help the state’s economy as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This funding injection means we have brought forward or provided additional funding in excess of $1 billion for Western Australia in the past eight months,” Mr. Morrison said

“This package builds on the fast tracking of $868 million for infrastructure in Western Australia which we announced last November, locking in priority upgrades that will bust congestion, improve safety and boost jobs at a time we need it most.”

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said the Federal Government’s $176 million contribution builds on its nationwide $100 billion, 10-year infrastructure pipeline.

“Federal funding for this package has been drawn from the recently announced $1.5 billion allocation to priority shovel-ready projects and targeted road safety works,” Senator Cormann said.

“We are continuing to work closely with all levels of Government making decisions to create jobs and support our economic recovery.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Government had worked closely with State, Territory and Local Governments to identify shovel-ready projects to help reinvigorate the economy and get money flowing into jobs and businesses as soon as possible.

“In Western Australia, this will see us investing in critical shovel-ready projects along the Great Eastern and Bussell Highways, Exmouth Road and Toodyay Road while simultaneously delivering a dedicated road safety package for life-saving improvements right across regional WA,” Mr. McCormack said.

“Overall this package is estimated to support more than 1,000 jobs during construction, which is absolutely fantastic news for locals and communities across the state.”

Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan said the Regional State Road Safety Improvement Program would see the two Governments invest $100 million across the State to deliver improvements over the next year.

“The Road Safety Improvement Program will widen, seal or install audio-tactile line markings on more than 20 regional routes right across the State to reduce run-off-road crashes,” Mr. McGowan said.

The jointly funded package is supported by investments from the Federal Government, $176 million, with the rest made up by the Western Australian Government.

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