E&OE...................
Good evening. One of the key roles of government in this large sparsely
populated nation is to satisfy the important infrastructure needs of regional
Australia. It is a major nation building role and one which my Government
is seeking to fulfil.
For many years I have been a strong supporter of a competitive Australian
rail network. And for 89 years governments and individuals have dreamt about
the construction of an Alice Springs to Darwin railway. At last that dream
is about to become reality. Following detailed negotiations between my Government
and the Governments of South Australia and the Northern Territory, enough
money will be provided to enable the project to go ahead.
Over three years the Federal Government will contribute up to $165 million
for this project out of a total of $480 million from the three Governments,
and $750 million from the private sector. Again it demonstrates the social
coalition in action. Government and the private sector working in partnership
to provide for the infrastructure needs of the nation.
When the first sod is turned mid next year it will represent the beginning
of construction of rail track stretching 1400 kilometres from the Southern
Ocean to the Timor Sea. The construction will take three years and generate
7,000 jobs in rural and regional Australia including 18 months work for
the BHP steelworks in Whyalla. I have called it the Steel Snowy because
like the Snowy Mountain Scheme which began 50 years ago this year, it is
a major project of national development.
The railway will be good for Australian exporters, open up more opportunities
for Australian industry and jobs. Most importantly I hope that it will send
the strongest possible message to Australians in the bush that they deserve
an equal share in Australia's economic prosperity. Goodnight.
[Ends]