PM’s Bruce Highway funding sets ‘precedent’ for Federal 80 per cent share on infrastructure, WA Premier says

Anthony Albanese’s $7.2 billion funding package for Queensland’s Bruce Highway has set a new precedent for State and Federal funding splits, WA Premier Roger Cook believes, hopeful of receiving more from Commonwealth coffers. Speaking on Tuesday after the Prime Minister launched his pre-election pitch in Queensland on Monday, Mr Cook said the funding announcement gave him hope more money could flow from Federal coffers to WA projects. The $7.2 billion represents an 80 per cent share of the project, despite Federal Labor setting rules that infrastructure should be funded evenly between States and the Commonwealth. “We love the 80/20 funding split. Quite frankly, you know, we would love to receive the restoration of that particular formula,” Mr Cook said. “If they want to restore the 80/20 funding rule across all national road highway networks, that would be welcome. “I make the observation that 30 per cent of the of the country’s national highway network is in Western Australia, so obviously we would welcome any uplift in funding from the Federal government in relation to those matters.” Pushed on whether he expected to see a change in the funding arrangements, Mr Cook said: “The Prime Minister has set the precedent now, so I very much look forward to the next conversation.” The Bruce Highway announcement prompted other States to call for a return to the majority Federal share for road projects, after Federal Labor shifted to the even split for joint funding last year. But WA’s strong budget results, including debt reduction and high surpluses, as well as an ongoing deal to compensate the State for poor GST calculations, will like temper expectations for a return to Federal funding shares of 80 per cent. Ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit to WA on his pre-election campaign trip across Australia’s north this week, Mr Cook refused to be drawn on whether his Government’s performance in the election would be an assistance to Mr Albanese’s re-election bid. “My focus is on making sure that we are campaigning every day between now and March 8 to show the people of Western Australia that we have a plan, a plan for the future, a plan to keep our economy strong very quickly,” the Premier said. Opposition Leader Shane Love said the Federal Government was short-changing WA and called for a return to the more generous funding arrangement. “East-Coast Albanese has slashed, delayed, or cancelled critical WA projects while pouring $7.2 billion into a single road project in Queensland. It’s clear that WA is being treated as an afterthought,” he said. “Funding for the Bruce Highway, at a generous 80/20 split, with a Liberal-National Queensland Government, shows Albanese is taking the WA Labor Government for granted. “The Federal Government must immediately restore the 80/20 funding split for major projects and give WA the fair share it deserves.” Mr Albanese is expected to touch down in WA’s Kimberley region later this week in his first campaign trip to the State this year. The State will prove crucial to Labor’s chances for a second term in majority government, holding nine seats in the West, including four won in 2022, propelling Mr Albanese into the Lodge.