Canberra: Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged over 2 billion U.S. dollars to fund transport projects in the country’s second-most populous state in a major pre-election commitment. Albanese announced over 3.3 billion Australian dollars (2.08 billion USD) for road and rail projects in the state of Victoria, with a significant portion allocated to the Melbourne Airport rail link project.
According to Namibia Press Agency, of the total funding, 2 billion AUD (1.26 billion USD) will be directed towards the Melbourne Airport rail link. The airport, located 20 km northwest of the central business district, is Australia’s second-busiest but lacks a direct rail connection to the city center, forcing travelers to use buses or cars. Construction on the rail link commenced in 2022 after numerous failed attempts over the decades. Albanese’s recent announcement raises the federal government’s funding commitment to 7 billion AUD (4.42 billion USD) of the project’s total estimated cost of 13 billion AUD (8.22 billion USD).
The new funding will contribute to building a rail hub in Sunshine, a suburb situated 13 km south of the airport, which will integrate the new line with regional rail services and Melbourne’s existing train network. The rail link is expected to be completed by 2033. In his speech in Melbourne, Albanese emphasized the necessity of the rail link, stating, “Whether you’re going on holiday, or traveling for work, getting to and from the airport shouldn’t be the most complicated part of your trip.”
Additionally, Albanese announced 1 billion AUD (632.4 million USD) in federal funding, supplemented by 200 million AUD (126.5 million USD) from the state government, for road repair projects in Melbourne’s rapidly growing southeast and north areas. Furthermore, 325 million AUD (205.5 million USD) will be invested to enhance capacity on a railway line serving the city’s western suburbs.
These announcements come as Albanese prepares to call a general election, which must be conducted by May 17. Local media speculates that he is poised to visit the governor-general to officially set the election date soon. The governing Labor Party, led by Albanese, achieved a noteworthy victory in the 2022 election, largely due to their success in Victoria. Labor secured 24 seats in the House of Representatives in Victoria, compared to 11 for the opposition Coalition, marking the largest state-wide gap in Labor’s favor.