The Commonwealth Government is dismayed by Victoria's decision not to proceed with building the East West Link.
The unprecedented announcement that the Victorian Government would rather pay hundreds of millions to a consortium than build the East West Link is a massive set back to Victoria.
The Victorian Government’s decision to abrogate contractual responsibilities sets a dangerous precedent for future projects and threatens further investment in much-needed infrastructure in our country.
They have damaged investor confidence in major infrastructure projects.
Australia can’t afford to discourage private investment in infrastructure because government alone cannot afford to build the infrastructure that our country needs.
There is no alternative to the East West Link in Victoria.
The East West Link is the only major shovel-ready project in Victoria.
It is the only answer to easing Victoria’s traffic congestion.
The Victorian Premier has today destroyed 7,000 jobs.
And the Victorian Government’s actions today mean that Melbourne’s daily traffic gridlock simply gets worse.
Victorians should feel let down by Daniel Andrews who promised before the election that no compensation would be paid.
The tearing up of this contract damages Victoria’s reputation as a place to do business – as has been proven by revelations this week that the French and Spanish Governments have made direct representations of concern to Victoria.
The East West Link is the only answer. Tens of millions of dollars and years of planning have already been invested to get the project shovel-ready.
$3 billion from the Commonwealth Government remains on the table for any Victorian Government which wants to build the East West Link.
We will talk to the Victorian Government about other projects, but the truth is there is no other major shovel ready project in Victoria.
Victorians will suffer as a consequence of this reckless decision.
15 April 2015