Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

All projects funded under the Building Australia Fund were recommended by Infrastructure Australia. The prioritisation methodology used by Infrastructure Australia in assessing projects is publicly available on the website. It has been canvassed ad infinitum at Senate estimates. In relation to the Oakajee Port, the government’s decision was subject to further consideration by Infrastructure Australia, and this was clearly stated in the budget. The government also took decisions in the budget to fund additional infrastructure projects separate to the Building Australia Fund that were considered to have merit. The decision to fund the Cooroy to Curra section of the Bruce Highway was based on the fact that this section has the worst safety record of any road on the national network, with crash rates 40 per cent above the national average. (Time expired)