The 2017 Federal Budget includes the following commitments to transport projects:

  • Rail: The centrepiece of the Federal Budget - $20 billion long-term investment in passenger and freight rail comprising a $10 billion National Rail Program for urban and regional passenger rail; an additional $8.4 billion to deliver the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail; and more than $1.3 billion for regional rail projects in Victoria, the Perth Metronet and faster city-regional connections. The package includes $75 million to support the duplication of the freight rail line at Port Botany in NSW.
  • Roads: Key road safety programs extended to 2020-21, including Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity ($40 million per year), Bruce Highway Upgrade in Queensland, road and rail infrastructure package in WA, significant upgrades to regional road freight corridors, continued funding of the Black Spot Programme and Roads to Recovery Programme.
  • Shipping: The Department of Infrastructure plans to "progress coastal shipping regulatory changes to ensure that a safe, secure and efficient coastal shipping system is an integral part of Australia's national transport system", but no new measures with a material impact on coastal shipping have been introduced in this Budget.
  • Air: Equity investment of up to $5.3 billion to develop Western Sydney Airport in Badgerys Creek.
  • Safety and Compliance: Ongoing substantial funding to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and additional funding to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, demonstrating a keen focus on transport and logistics safety and compliance in the coming years.

  • Full details of transport and infrastructure measures can be found here.

This publication does not deal with every important topic or change in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you have found this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact one of the named individuals listed.