Don’t believe Malcolm Turnbull or Scott Morrison when they talk about infrastructure funding in the Budget – Page 131 of Budget Paper Number 2 (pictured below) tells the real story: a series of ‘nil’ investments in the Infrastructure Investment Programme over the forward estimates to 2020. 
Charlton MP, Pat Conroy, and Hunter MP, Joel Fitzgibbon, have slammed the Government’s lack of vision for infrastructure investment which could have a dire effect on strategically significant projects in the Hunter, including the Glendale Interchange.
“Labor funded the Glendale Interchange over three separate Budgets, more than $13 million all up,” Mr Conroy said.
“I’m not surprised there’s no money in this year’s Budget, the Coalition have twice refused Lake Macquarie Council’s applications for further funds and in 2014 they actually cut more than $1 million from it.”
“Last night when the Treasurer spoke about a range of infrastructure investments, he was actually talking about projects that were already promised. There is not a single extra dollar of infrastructure funding in this Budget, which includes no funding for Glendale Interchange.”
“This is the first Budget in living memory where there's not a single new major infrastructure investment announced.”
“There is some really exciting progress being made on the Glendale Interchange at the moment, but there has to be further funding or work is going to stall,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
“Time is running out, soon the first section will be complete and without funding to start on the second section the contractors will take their plant and equipment and move on. It will cost so much more to get them back.”
“More funding has to be forthcoming and the Federal Government should be playing a role in this. Their attitude to infrastructure investment is dismal.”
“I’ve been involved in some major projects like the Hunter Expressway, and it obvious to see the benefit this kind of development has on the region as a whole.”
“This is the most important infrastructure project in the region and we are getting nothing from Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison for it.”
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
THE HON JOEL FITZGIBBON MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY
SHADOW MINISTER FOR RURAL AFFAIRS
SPOKESPERSON FOR COUNTRY CAUCUS
MEMBER FOR HUNTER
PAT CONROY MP
MEMBER FOR CHARLTON
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