Shorten factually incorrect on WestConnex funding

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was incorrect today about the extent to which the $3.5 billion of Commonwealth funding and financing for WestConnex has already been paid to the New South Wales Government.

At a doorstop in Cairns this morning, Mr Shorten said:

“The funding for this project has already been paid…the truth of the matter is that the government has paid the money.”

(Doorstop, Cairns, 30 May 2016)

The facts are as follows:

• The Commonwealth Government has committed $1.5 billion in grant funding and a $2 billion concessional loan to WestConnex.
• To date only $750 million of the grant has been paid to NSW, with another $450 million due by 30 June – leaving $300 million yet to be paid until after the election.
• None of the $2 billion concessional loan has yet been drawn down, as is made clear in Budget paper Number 1, 2016-17, page 3-33.
• $38 million will have been paid by 2 July, leaving $1.962 billion of concessional loan yet to be remitted until after the election.

On 19 May 2016, Anthony Albanese told a town hall meeting that “there will be not one dollar from the federal Labor government for this WestConnex project.”

Hence the key issue is clear – if Labor comes to Government and Mr Albanese is the responsible minister, will he conduct himself in accordance with what he told the town hall meeting? If he does, that would raise serious implications for WestConnex.

Only a Turnbull Coalition Government can be relied on to work cooperatively with the NSW Baird Liberal Government to deliver WestConnex and the benefits it will provide to the people of western and southwestern Sydney.