FED: $26.4b infrastructure spend spot on, but too late: opp'n

AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2009
FED: $26.4b infrastructure spend spot on, but too late: opp'n

The federal opposition says the RUDD government's decision to spend 26 billion dollars
on road and rail projects is the right thing to do .. but it should have happened eight
months ago .. instead of cash handouts.

The states and territories have signed up to a record investment in federal roads and
rail infrastructure which will include funding for upgrades of the Pacific and Bruce highways.

Opposition infrastructure spokesman ANDREW ROBB says it's the first thing the government
should have done .. to protect Australia from the ravages of the global financial crisis.

He's told the ABC if it had acted seven or eight months ago .. like China .. Labor
wouldn't have needed two more stimulus packages containing billions of dollars of cash
handouts.

Treasurer WAYNE SWAN says that for every dollar spent on cash bonuses .. Labor has
committed two dollars for infrastructure projects .. including in schools and public housing.

AAP RTV jcd/jmt

KEYWORD: INFRASTRUCTURE ROBB (CANBERRA)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.