HON CATHERINE KING MP

SHADOW MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MEMBER FOR BALLARAT

MERYL SWANSON MP

CHAIR OF LABOR’S REGIONAL JOBS TASKFORCE
MEMBER FOR PATERSON

Scott Morrison has been busted taking his rorts to the streets, with over 83 percent of $3 billion allocated from the Urban Congestion Fund going to Coalition and marginal seats.

Scott Morrison’s Government promised billions to “address pinch points and last-mile access to ports, airports and freight hubs”, with a focus on urban areas.

Despite funding being available to fix urban congestion issues in regional Australia, Morrison chose to not allocate a cent to improving transport in the electorate of Paterson.

Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Catherine King said: “Scott Morrison’s response to rising traffic congestion across Australia was to systematically rort billions of taxpayers’ money for his own political purposes.”

“He then used a further $17 million of taxpayer funds on pre-election advertisements to tell us how good it was,” Ms King said.

Member for Paterson, Meryl Swanson said: “People who live in Maitland, Kurri Kurri and Port Stephens have had enough of Scott Morrison’s rorts.”

“Does the Prime Minister seriously think Hunter residents don’t face traffic congestion and road safety issues?” Swanson said.

“Commute times in regional Australia are rising faster than our major cities, but Scott Morrison’s rorts leave families and tradies stuck in the slow lane.”

Labor has written to the Auditor-General requesting an audit into the design, management and politicisation of the Urban Congestion Fund.

We know there isn’t a taxpayer funded program that Scott Morrison won’t use for his own political purposes.

MONDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 2020

*For change in commute times across Australia see Table 4.8, pg 79 of the 2019 HILDA Survey.