June 6 2018 Tonkin Highway funding shortfall risks end to extension The State Opposition has described the failure of the McGowan Government to fund the extension of the Tonkin Highway in the recent state budget as another betrayal of the people of Darling Range by the Labor Party. Opposition Leader Mike Nahan said the lack of State funding for the Tonkin Highway extension was contrary to an agreement Premier Mark McGowan entered with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in April this year. “Mark McGowan reached an agreement for the Tonkin Highway extension – he announced a 50:50 joint funding agreement with the Commonwealth,” Dr Nahan said. “The Federal Government have provided $253 million in the 2018/19 Federal Budget for the much needed extension of Tonkin Hwy from Thomas Road to South West Highway and other developments. “Yet, despite entering this agreement with the Commonwealth to co-fund the project, the McGowan Government are not committing any funding for the extension of Tonkin Highway.” Dr Nahan said the project was shovel ready, federally funded and ready to create local jobs, but Premier McGowan has abandoned the people of Darling Range. “People living and working in Darling Range have every right to be angry at the McGowan Government for their duplicity and dishonesty,” Dr Nahan said. “They were led to believe road improvements would occur and local job opportunities would be made available, but that required funding from the State Government and the McGowan Government has not delivered it. “This is a betrayal of the people of Darling Range. This is demonstration that even when he puts his signature to an agreement, Mark McGowan still cannot be trusted.” “The Premier stood next to the Prime Minister to announce this funding agreement. “There were no ifs, buts or maybes about the funding agreement. It was a 50:50 deal and the Federal Government stuck to their word, but the State Government did not. “They clearly do not care about the people of Darling Range and the people of Darling Range don’t deserve any more duplicity and dishonesty – they’ve had enough of that from Labor already.” Media Contact |
