Australia has an economic interest in ensuring our cities have 21st century urban rail transport to reduce traffic congestion.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
High-speed rail would revolutionise interstate travel and would also be an economic game-changer for dozens of regional communities along its path.
Tax can be structured in a way that actually encourages investment in infrastructure and encourages investment in Australia from overseas.
The Australia to 2050 report highlights something that is well understood by South Australians, that infrastructure plays a key role in long-term economic expansion.
It's absolutely essential that Melbourne, and Victoria, has a rail link to the airport.
We are also ignoring and underfunding high speed rail which is one of the best ways to move citizens and improve congestion on our highways.
By 2050, the Australian population is expected to grow from 22 million to 36 million. That increase alone will put huge pressure on our towns and our cities. We will need more homes, more roads, more rail lines, more hospitals, more schools, just to accommodate so many Australians.
Beyond highways and roads, we need more money for mass transit, intercity passenger rail and freight rail. We have a long way to go to bridge the funding gaps.
I'm pleased to announce that my government will build the much-needed Melbourne airport rail link.
We're building the infrastructure we need, whether it be the Melbourne Rail Link, the airport rail link which Melburnians have so wanted for over 40 years, upgrading the Pakenham-Cranbourne railway line, or building the East-West Link.
The government should spend more time on promoting tourism in Sydney.