A Shorten Labor Government will invest $173 million in a Strategic Roads Package to improve safety, boost productivity and deliver more reliable access to communities across the Northern Territory.
The package has a strong focus on remote communities.
Importantly, the funding will start flowing in the first budget of a Shorten Labor Government. Investing in the Territory, and investing quickly, will deliver a badly needed stimulus for the Territory economy and create jobs in the short term.
The ten major projects in the package will improve access to remote communities in Central Australia, the Katherine region and the Top End, while also opening up new opportunities for long term economic development.
In particular, the Mango Industry Strategic Road Project will seal 15 kilometres of dirt roads leading to mango farms and packing sheds in the Top End, lifting productivity and driving further growth in the Territory’s major horticultural sector.
Over the past few decades, the mango industry has evolved from being based around small hobby farms into a major industry producing a quarter of Australia’s total crop, worth nearly $90 million a year.
Labor understands that better, more reliable roads will underpin further development of this important sector, ensuring it can produce more income and more jobs for Territorians.
The other focus on Labor’s Northern Territory Strategic Roads Package will be improving access between remote towns and communities across the Territory, so residents will have better access to health, education and community services as well as to opportunities for sport and recreation.
These projects will also support expansion of local business activity and, importantly, improve access for tourists, driving further economic activity across the Territory.
Labor’s comprehensive Northern Territory Strategic Roads Package includes:
Improving Roads in the Top End of the Northern Territory
- Mango Industry Strategic Roads Project - $20 million
- Upgrades to Maningrida/Ramingining/Milingimbi Access - $62 million
- Port Keats Road Upgrade - $20 million
Improving Roads in the Katherine region
- Phelps River crossing east from Katherin - $10 million
- Sandy Creek crossing west from Katherine - $3 million
Improving roads in Central Australia
- Santa Teresa Road Sealing Phase 1 & 2 - $35 million
- Papunya Access Upgrade - $9 million
- Kintore/Haast Bluff Access Upgrade - $2 million
- Arreyonga Hermannsburg Access Upgrade - $3 million
- Alparra/Ampilatwatja (Sandover) Access Upgrade - $9 million
Over its six years of cuts and chaos, the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government has ignored the Northern Territory’s infrastructure needs.
By contrast, the former Labor government delivered record infrastructure investment to the Territory over its six years in office, lifting per capita investment from $275 per Territorian to $458.
A Shorten Labor Government will build on that record.
This election is a choice between Labor’s plan for Northern Territory roads, or bigger tax loopholes for the top end of town under the Liberals.
After six years of Liberal cuts and chaos, our united Labor team is ready.