Projects safe despite budget blow

Alex de Vos
Geelong federal election promises worth hundreds of millions of dollars were safe from a $40 billion hole in Australia’s budget, an MP’s spokesman said yesterday.
Member for Corangamite Darren Cheeseman’s spokesman said Federal Government would provide all funding for a raft of promised infrastructure projects regardless of the budget damage.
The Government’s promises to the region in the lead-up to last November’s election included duplication of the Princes Highway between Geelong and Winchelsea, a bypass link to Anglesea Road and a “super clinic” in the city’s southern suburbs.
“These promises will be kept,” the spokesperson said.
“We still have a bit of planning to do on some of the projects but they will be going ahead.
“(Kevin) Rudd has made it clear that all the election commitments will be delivered.
“But the $10 billion building Australia infrastructure fund for massive construction projects might be affected in terms of the time-lines.”
Treasurer Wayne Swan announced amid America’s historic election on Wednesday that the global financial crisis would cut $40 billion from Australia’s budget in the next few years.
Mr Swan warned the shortfall would affect funding for various projects.
“There are a large number of areas which we are ambitious to proceed in, in which we will have to take tough decisions and make tough choices, ” Mr Swan told a media conference.
“But we have implemented all of our election commitments in the context of the last budget. We have ambitious plans across a range of areas. We are going to have to cut our cloth to suit the circumstances.”