Treasurer Defends WA Infrastructure Budget
Announcement posted by DesignBuild Source 17 May 2012
The recent release of the federal budget has created industry turmoil. Tax cuts and various other issues have left industry nationwide losing complete confidence in the federal government and their allocation of money.
One such issue that has been sparked is an attack on the budget that suggests that federal government has neglected to sufficiently invest in Western Australian infrastructure projects.
Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan is lashing back at these comments with the proof of several hundred million dollar roadway projects that he believes will finally share the benefits of the mining boom with the rest of the WA public.
“We are substantially putting a lot of money into the state of Western Australia to make sure that the infrastructure that is required by this growing state is there because this state is one of the great engine rooms of the national economy,” says Swan. “A lot of people in this state don’t feel part of the mining boom, they don’t necessarily feel that they are receiving the direct benefits”.
Swan states that funding for projects such as the $668 million Gateway Project will encourage a sharing of mining stimulated wealth in the state.
“Well, they do receive direct benefit through our investment in the Gateway project, which is funded by revenue from the minerals resource rent tax” says Swan....