Today marks 498 days since the Federal Coalition Government promised a special City Deal for Darwin to lift federal infrastructure investment and underpin the city’s economic development.
But nothing has happened – except news that Commonwealth infrastructure grants to the Northern Territory will collapse by 75 per cent over the next four years.
These facts underscore how the Coalition has taken its eye off the ball when it comes to infrastructure in the Northern Territory as it has become paralysed by the internal divisions that ended Malcolm Turnbull’s prime ministership last week.
Mr Turnbull offered the City Deal to placate growing concern in the NT about his Government’s cuts to road investment.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese said that far from delivering increased investment through a City Deal, the Government has made further cuts.
“The Budget forward estimates show that the Federal Government will invest $222 million in Northern Territory infrastructure in 2018-19,’’ Mr Albanese said.
“But that figure will fall over each of the following four years to $61 million in 2021-22.
”This 75 per cent reduction over four years means promised investment in upgrades to the Central Arnhem Road and Buntine Highway has been pushed off into the Never Never.’’