Category: MIL-OSI

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STACEY LEE [HOST]: Well, the main construction works are now underway on the Torrens to Darlington, the last little bit of the puzzle to fix up South Road. And here in town today to make the announcement is the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Honourable Catherine King, and she joins me in the studio. Good afternoon, Minister

CATHERINE KING [MINISTER]: Good afternoon. It is great to be here in Adelaide again. 

STACEY LEE: And thank you for your time and coming into the studio. It seems like just last week you were being sworn in as the infrastructure Minister once again. 

CATHERINE KING: Well, it was last week or last Tuesday, and so absolutely fantastic. First big project I get to come to is the Torrens to Darlington, which is absolutely going great guns. You cannot miss that construction work has well and truly started. 

STACEY LEE: Yeah, absolutely. Why was this the first one you wanted to visit as the new slash old minister? 

CATHERINE KING: Well, it’s pretty much the biggest project, the biggest road project in the country. I think North East Link in Victoria would sort of have some equivalence to it. It’s a big project. You’re going to have three tunnel boring machines. So, the work that you’re starting to see at the moment is all of the work getting ready for the tunnel boring machines to come in. And so basically they build them on a big platform, they drop that down about 25 meters, and then they get assembled and go, and they’re huge. They’re absolutely massive. You’ll see lots of activity around all of that. And so being able to just go and have a look at that work that started some of the side roads to make sure we can keep traffic flying. They’ve been completed as well. So, you’re going to see construction started. It’s a big project that’s going to be going for the next three to four years, really. So great to be able to get on site. And as I said, biggest, biggest, really road project in the country. And it’s at a stage where we could go and have a look at it.

STACEY LEE:  And certainly the biggest one that our state’s seen. We’ve got the the Heysen Tunnels on the on the freeway, but these tunnels will be…

CATHERINE KING: they will be amazing. There are a few things I love about this project. I love it. I love a good infrastructure project, but what I particularly like about this is that you’ve got three tunnel boring machines. That’s unusual. Normally, there’s two at most. So that’s really quite different. But the other is that a number of people employed on it, about 5500 are going to be employed. A lot of them locals. And I met a couple of Victorians who’ve moved off over to Adelaide from the Big Builds that they’ve been doing in Victoria, and are just loving living in Adelaide. So, we’re trying to entice them back over the border, but I think they’re probably staying here for a long, well, certainly for a while, yet. But also, the green space that you’re going to gain from this project as well, like it’s often when you see these really massive road projects, you see them really dividing suburbs, and they can cut across suburbs, and it’s impossible to, you know, really live around them, whereas, because you’re going underground here, you get all of this space back that the community can use. So, this is a really amazing project, and I think you’re going to see lots of lots of great art, great parks, that’s also part of it, which give the community back their space

STACEY LEE: up above ground. I was thinking, are we building parks underground? Now that’s something new.

CATHERINE KING: Green space on top, the green space on top. So, a lot of people employed. But then, of course, there’s the savings. You’re getting rid of those 21 sets of traffic lights. And you think every time you’re stopping at a traffic light, that’s minutes and minutes you’re in the car just waiting, and 21 of those going out, 40 minutes will be saved in that drive if you’re driving that route regularly. And that’s 40 minutes you get back with your kids, or get to stay and have a little sleep in in the morning if you’re trying to get to work. 

STACEY LEE: I thought you were going to say, or stay at work a bit longer.

CATHERINE KING: (laughs) no I want people home to do the things that they love doing as well, as well as being able to get to work more efficiently as well. 

STACEY LEE: Yeah, absolutely. Now, you mentioned the timeline. Is it on track? When is it expected to be finished? Because this is the last piece of the puzzle; we’ve been waiting for years.

CATHERINE KING: Yeah, it’s a real so, so with infrastructure projects, everyone wants them done tomorrow, but they’re big and they’re complex engineering projects. So, 2031 is meant to be the completion of this project. Of course, if you have, you know, we’re not looking likely at the moment, but really heavy rains that cause problems or things that delay, you know, but I think they’ve done all of that preliminary work, so all the geo tech work, so they know that it’s not, you know, mostly clay underground, if you hit really heavy rock that slows the tunnel boring machines down. But all of that, all of that on time to date, and we hope the project proceeds that way. 

STACEY LEE:  2031, did you say?

CATHERINE KING: Yeah, well, that’s the, that’s the finish, and it feels like, but also, it’ll go really quick. You’ll, you’ll see the amount of work that’s being done on it. But you’ve got to start. You don’t start these projects. You don’t finish them.

STACEY LEE: And does South Road, as it currently stands, remain open while the tunnel…?

CATHERINE KING: So, yeah that’s right. So that, again, that adds to complexity of projects. You still got to be able to move people around the city. So that’s, that’s what happens in the meantime. So, this is really, you’ll see, you’ll start to see all that happening underground. Well, you won’t send underground, but you’ll see all the work starting at the entrance. 

STACEY LEE: And in terms of funding, I believe this was a 50/50, funding, yeah?

CATHERINE KING: That’s right. So, $7.7 billion from each level of government. And what you’re seeing is the Commonwealth is increasingly stepping into that space now, into sort of some of the suburbs and cities that we traditionally wouldn’t have been in. So that’s been happening over a long period of time. The Commonwealth sort of traditionally only funded those big, you know, big roads outside of cities, the connecting parts. And then over time, we’ve increasingly been stepping into the space of funding more in terms of the suburbs and suburban roads and connectivity. So that’s sort of why our infrastructure pipeline has grown. But also you’re seeing us involved in projects like the Torrens to Darlington. 

STACEY LEE: And potentially other projects as well, like the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass, which was a big one during the election campaign. 

CATHERINE KING: yeah, well, we announced just over half a billion dollars for that. That’s been a really important project for us as well, so that, and also the Curtis Road Level Crossing Removal, again, a really big project and we’ve been involved, obviously, in a lot of the level crossing removals. I think there’s three to four of them happening at the moment, and they really do change again the amount of time people are stuck waiting in cars to actually get to where they need to go.

STACEY LEE: Yeah. In terms of the freight bypass, that was a big one in a in a very marginal seat during the election and Labor won that seat. I think the agreement prior to the election, or the commitment from your party, was 50% funding split. Did you have a chance to pull the Premier aside today and say, hey, I know your budget’s coming up in a few months. Are you willing to commit to the other 50?

CATHERINE KING: Well that would be a matter for their budget. You know the thing that I would say about the relationship I have with Tom Koutsantonis and also Premier Malinauskas. But of course, my boss, the Prime Minister, with the Premier in particular, is a really collaborative one. We work together. We work through issues, and we will, you know, we think the bypass is important. We put that half a billion dollars plus on the table. And we look forward to working with the South Australian Government to deliver that project. 

STACEY LEE: How confident are you that it’ll get off the ground? 

CATHERINE KING: Well, I think it’s important. I think we do need to bear in mind that there are always capacity constraints in terms of infrastructure as well. So, we’ll have to talk to them about the timing of the project. You know, we might need to do some planning and geo tech work and all of that stuff first. But you know, they know it’s important. They’ve committed to the you know, they’re committed to the project. You know, they’ve brought the project to us so that 50% that we’ve put on the table, we’re really keen to work with the South Australian Government on that, and we’ll work through whatever issues there are going forward.

STACEY LEE: And it is still a priority for your government given now that’s no longer a marginal seat, and the other one Boothby is no longer marginal either? 

CATHERINE KING: Yeah, I guess what I’d say with infrastructure, what I’ve been really at pains to do is to try and stop some of this sort of – it’s a marginal seat or it’s not a marginal seat. Like what we’ve tried to do, we’ve asked states to deliver now, under the reforms, we put in place 10-year infrastructure plans, and really, what we’re doing is looking at projects that are part of that 10-year long-term horizon of infrastructure projects. So it became obviously a political issue in the election campaign – that happens, we have elections, that always occurs. But really, this has been really important, you know, it was in our last budget, the state government had brought it to us as a project. So we just work our way, pretty much systematically, through those and start delivering and that’s really been my experience, is get the planning work done, make sure that we know how much it’s going to cost, and then you start doing the work on it. Part of the problem of what I inherited is that we often had lots of press releases that were very politicised. It was often about marginal seats or what was happening there, and not enough money allocated to it. In fact, we didn’t even know as a Commonwealth how much something was going to cost, because the previous government had said, oh, we’ll put, you know, $200 million into this, or $400 million. And you suddenly look at it, and we did a big review, and you go, actually, it’s going to cost a lot more than that. How are we going to find the money? So really, what we’re trying to do is planning work, planning money, planning work, first get an idea about that and then work with the State governments to actually deliver them. And that’s proving to be a really good model. 

STACEY LEE: Yeah, well, I guess that happens with every project at the moment. You know, costs have blown out over the last few years a lot. So hopefully, I know there’s a lot of people I’m in, I’m in the seat of Sturt, and so it was a big issue for me in the lead up to the election, for a lot of people. So hopefully in the state budget next month, I think, we get some sort of a resolution on whether that early work can occur in those investigations, and we’ll go from there. 

CATHERINE KING: Yeah, no, that would be great. 

STACEY LEE: Up to anything else while you’re in town, Minister? 

CATHERINE KING: No, this was a big thing today. And as I said, it was great to see the amount of workers that are on site, they’re really excited. Like, the thing about construction workers too, is they love these projects and being able to show off what they’re doing. And this is a big build, so I hope lots of people get the opportunity. There’s a great visitor center that’s got the example of the tunnel boring machines in there is go and have a bit of a look. There’ll be a bit of disruption while this build is occurring. That’s inevitable, but it’ll really make a huge difference to the city, and to people’s lives. 

STACEY LEE: Alright, well, I’ll leave you to get back to it. Maybe you can stop off at the central market for lunch before you head. 

CATHERINE KING: Generally, I always stop off at the Haigh’s. We’ll see about that. I’m trying to lose a bit of weight, but that always happens in in Adelaide, we hit the Haigh’s. It is always amazing. And everyone tells me it tastes better when you buy it in Adelaide, absolutely, that’s what I’m told. 

STACEY LEE: Well it’s in walking distance from the studio so I’ll let you get to it. Thank you for coming in. 

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The transformed Wangaratta railway station has been officially opened today, marking the completion of major works on Inland Rail’s Beveridge to Albury (B2A) Tranche 1 project.

Inland Rail – which will run double-stacked freight trains via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland – will cut rail freight travel time between Melbourne and Brisbane to less than 24 hours. 

At Wangaratta, modifications of the station precinct and the replacement of the adjacent Green Street bridge were required to allow sufficient clearance for double-stacked freight trains. 

Together with construction partner, McConnell Dowell, Inland Rail transformed the station by:

• relocating the east track to form a new west track 

• adding a new western platform 

• removing two footbridges and replacing them with a single pedestrian underpass 

• lowering the tracks under Green Street bridge and 

• replacing the Green Street bridge on the same alignment.

Wangaratta station is now more accessible with a new western carpark, better connected with new pathways, lifts, ramps and stairs and safer with the installation of 35 security cameras.

In addition, Inland Rail also lowered the tracks under the Murray Valley Highway at Barnawartha North and replaced bridges over the rail line at Glenrowan and Seymour-Avenel Road.

Wangaratta station is the centrepiece of the B2A Tranche 1 project, which also involved upgrading sections of the 262 km of existing rail between Beveridge and Albury.

Tranche 2, which will complete the Victorian section of Inland Rail, is already underway. 

Work on B2A Tranche 1 has delivered significant benefits for local communities and businesses in regional Victoria. 

Almost 1,650 people were employed on the project, including 59 First Nations people, 124 women, 39 apprentices, and 176 young adults under the age of 25.

1,578 workers were residents from across the region and 488 were from Wangaratta.

346 local businesses (10 of which were First Nations-owned) secured contracts worth $161.3 million on the project.

Of this, $18 million was invested across 43 Wangaratta businesses, that were engaged to deliver everything from electrical services, plumbing and traffic management to precast concrete products, equipment hire, accommodation and catering. 

Quotes attributable to Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

“Inland Rail will transform the way we’re able to move freight across Australia; it’s essential infrastructure that will help us keep pace with our nation’s population growth. 

“The project is now well on the way, with the opening of the Wangaratta station and the completion of the first of two tranches on the Beveridge to Albury section.

“Almost 1,650 people were employed on this project, and injected $18 million in Wangaratta businesses.

“Inland Rail is projected to carry 70% domestic use goods, which means we’ll be able to get food from our growers to our suppliers to our homes in rapid speed.”  

Quotes attributable to Inland Rail CEO Nick Miller:

“The opening of the Wangaratta railway station precinct and the completion of B2A Tranche 1 is an exciting milestone for the whole project.

“We are another step closer to running double-stacked freight trains from Melbourne to Brisbane.

“The high numbers of local workers and businesses engaged on the project is a terrific result and it’s something we want to replicate all the way to Brisbane.

“We’re determined this project leaves a legacy in the towns it touches, and not just new railway infrastructure.

“We want to expose local workers to new opportunities, boost skills and develop and expand capabilities of businesses so they can grow and thrive after we’re gone.

“All levels of government worked closely with local communities to build important new infrastructure that will benefit Australia for decades.”

Quotes attributable to Federal Labor Senator for Victoria Lisa Darmanin:

“It’s full steam ahead for Inland Rail, and the opening of the new Wangaratta Station is a significant milestone for both the community and this essential infrastructure project.”

“This is a national project with genuine local benefits for the Wangaratta community – workers, businesses and transport users alike.”

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Motorists and bike riders will now benefit from safety improvements along the Eumundi-Noosa Road, between Lenehans Lane, and the Doonan and Beckmans Road roundabout in Noosaville.

Both the Australian and Queensland Governments made significant contributions of $12.5 million for a joint investment of $25 million to deliver these critical safety works under the Road Safety Program. 

Eumundi-Noosa Road has a significant crash history. The completed works will improve safety by separating through traffic, reducing the potential for head-on crashes, and improving conditions for all road users. 

Key improvements delivered as part of the safety project include:

• increasing separation between lanes of opposing traffic by a wide centre lane treatment
• road widening and resurfacing 
• installing audio tactile line marking to alert drivers if they drift from their lane
• the removal of roadside hazards
• providing safety improvements for bike riders, including sealed shoulders and left-turn lanes at key intersections
• installing targeted roadside safety barriers, including motorcycle protection
• the relocation and modification of existing street lighting to suit the wider road formation

As one of two primary routes linking the Bruce Highway with Noosa, the safety improvements along the Eumundi-Noosa Road will benefit a broad mix of road users and vehicle types, including a significant portion of commuter and tourist traffic. 

More information about the project’s safety feature can be accessed here.  

Quotes attributable to Federal Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Senator for Queensland, Anthony Chisholm:

“We’re proud to have partnered with the Queensland Government to deliver these important safety upgrades, which will help to reduce crashes and serious injuries on this section of the Eumundi-Noosa Road.

“As the key connection between the Bruce Highway and Noosa, these improvements are set to benefit both locals and those travelling from out of town to visit the popular region. 

“The Road Safety Program is one of many initiatives in our government’s strategy to reduce the nation’s road toll.” 

Quotes attributable to the Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Brent Mickelberg:

“It is important we take every step possible to help reduce road trauma across Queensland, which includes delivering lasting infrastructure that ensures safer journeys for all road users.

“Road safety is a top priority for the Crisafulli Government and I’d like to thank the local community and motorists for their patience whilst these important safety improvements were underway.”

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Chair of the Australia Council Robert Morgan has announced he will retire from the Australia Council Board. 

Deputy Chair Professor Wesley Enoch will step in as Acting Chair. 

Arts Minister Tony Burke thanked Mr Morgan for his contribution to the cultural sector in Australia. 

“Mr Morgan has played a pivotal role in establishing Creative Australia, the centrepiece of our National Cultural Policy Revive, restoring and modernising the Australia Council for the Arts ,” he said. 

“Mr Morgan committed to leading the transition of the organisation and told me of his intention to retire once the legislation was in place and Creative Australia established. Music Australia, Creative Workplaces and the First Nations Board are now in place and Writing Australia will commence from 1 July this year. Now is the time to hand-over to a new Chair. 

“As Chair of the Australia Council since July 2021, Mr Morgan has made an invaluable contribution to the cultural sector in Australia and I thank him for his commitment, passion and professionalism.” 

Mr Morgan said “it has been a great honour to have served as the Chair of Creative Australia during the period of its establishment and supporting its ambitions for Australia’s artists, creators and cultural visionaries.”

 “I am delighted Wesley Enoch will be the Acting Chair of Creative Australia, allowing me to retire having fulfilled my commitment to serve as Chairman until a successor was ready to step into the role.

 “I have great confidence Creative Australia will continue to deliver its mandate to support Australia’s rich and diverse cultural life for all Australians under Wesley’s leadership.”

Professor Enoch AM is a proud Quandamooka man from Minjerribah, an internationally acclaimed playwright, artistic director, and has been the Deputy Chair of the Australia Council since August 2023.

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Thank you Andrew for your kind introduction and welcome.

It’s a pleasure to be here, and I thank the Brisbane 2032 OCOG for hosting this event. 

I want to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet the Turrbal and Jagera peoples and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

Together Australians stand on the shoulders of 1,600 generations of First Nations people, and that is our shared history.

I also acknowledge to CO-Com, executives and the IOC delegation, particularly President-elect Kirsty Coventry and new Co-Com Chair Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski, who is all but a local… training under own Vicki Roycroft at the Brisbane Showgrounds… Mikee, please know, I view you as my Vicki Roycroft.

Thank you to my fellow OCOG members, and AOC President Ian Chesterman and new CEO Mark Arbib… Mark’s presence means there are three Federal Sport Ministers in this room – what could go wrong.

While our Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wishes he could be here this week with you, he has just returned from the Pope’s inauguration in Rome.

If there is one sentence that resonates long after you leave Brisbane… I hope it is this –

The re-election of the Albanese Government ensures Australia is absolutely committed to making the Brisbane Games – a great Games, for our athletes, for Queensland, Australia and the Pacific.

There’s a quote from outgoing President Bach that has stuck with me and lights our path to 2032…

“Like no other human activity, sport is about bringing people together in the spirit of friendship and respect. Sport always builds bridges, it never erects walls.”

The Australian government views Brisbane 2032 as an amphitheatre for our athletes to bring people together for greater health and social cohesion from playground to podium. 

Because sport makes us hug strangers. And we have evidence of that right below us – on that grass.

I understand there is a tour of this stadium later today but this venue is so much more than turnstiles and corporate boxes.

You see, for decades that grass behind you was only known for men clashing in violent rugby contests.

Until we hosted the Women’s Football World Cup in 2023, when just down there, three seconds changed a nation.

A moment when a young woman called Cortnee Vine, who learned to kick a ball in the outer suburbs of Brisbane, 10 kms north of here, curled a penalty past France’s goalkeeper to send Australia through to the World Cup semi-final. 

Our greatest World Cup achievement.

I was sitting just up there. I cried. I launched a ferocious hug on a bewildered Prime Minister that prompted Federal Police to hover.

Cortnee’s goal speaks to why the 2032 Games must be about sporting Moments not monoliths.

That moment and significant funding from the Australian government led to a ten per cent increase in women’s football participation post tournament.

That match is among the top five most watched television programs in Australian history.

In fact, four of those five are women’s sporting events, including Cathy Freeman’s 400 metre gold in Sydney.

This September marks 25 years since those Sydney Games transformed Australia.

Brisbane 2032 must and will drive even greater participation and social cohesion.

As a key Games Delivery Partner, I want to assure the Games family the Australian Government is a steadfast partner and we thank the IOC for your esteemed leadership.

Our immediate areas of focus include governance, infrastructure, impact and legacy.

I know how dedicated the IOC is to fostering sport through the Pacific and note your recent trip to Guam – we share that same passion.

We will make 2032 a north star for a more inclusive sport environment throughout the region and for our Pacific family.

From the outset the Australian Government has backed Brisbane 2032.

We provided more than $8.6 million to the Queensland Government to support its candidature bid and its only grown from there.

Already, our 2032 funding commitment across infrastructure, transport, high performance, major events and grass roots has exceeded $16 billion dollars. 

This includes more than $12.4 billion dollars in Games related transport, more than $3.4 billion dollars in Games venues and in the past 18 months alone almost a billion-dollar commitment to grass roots and high-performance sport.

Crucially, we made a two year $489 million in Olympic and Paralympic sport as we head to LA28.

This is the largest Olympic and Paralympic sport investment ever.

This means that 95% of Olympic and Paralympic summer sports are receiving increased funding with an average increase of 64% per year, compared to the period leading up to Paris Games.

More sports are being supported too, with an increase from 54 to 68 summer Olympic and Paralympic programs funded in the lead-up to LA.

We have also increased our Direct Athlete Investment Scheme – DAIS – funding, boosting it to $41.4m across two years.

DAIS is money in the athlete’s pocket so they can spend more time training and less time fundraising.

This means more than 1000 Australian athletes now receive DAIS funding.

Crucially we have also doubled the money going towards Paralympic sports with an extra $54.9m over the next two years.

The is the largest commitment an Australian government has made to Para-Sport and will shift the balance of funding from 85 per cent able bodied and 15 per cent people with a disability, to 75 per cent able bodied and 25 per cent people with a disability.

And, while it hasn’t been announced yet, the Federal Government will invest an additional $2.1m so our Paralympians can travel to Milan Cortina to chase gold. 

We are determined to do more – because we know 3 in 4 Australians with a disability want to play sport but only 1 in 4 have the opportunity.

While as Minister for Sport, I am first and foremost athlete-led.

We have also made major infrastructure commitments including a record $249m for the Australian Institute of Sport to improve our national centre of excellence where our juniors and elites train. 

This is the biggest investment in the AIS since the early 80’s – before Kirsty and I were born.

This is on top of our $200m Play Our Way fund for women’s and girls sport infrastructure and programs – the largest ever sport funding package to build female changerooms and women-specific sporting environments.

And… since we came to Government Labor has funded more than $80m in Major Events as well including the Canoe World Champs that the IOC’s own Jess Fox will star in later this year.

The Albanese Government will also invest up to $3.435 billion in Games venues in a 50/50 partnership with the Queensland Government.

BUT – we are also funding significant Games transport.

$12.4 billion committed for transport projects in South East Queensland already identified by the Queensland Government as necessary for the Games.

This includes faster rail, highway upgrades, and major connection pieces that support 2032.

So this $16 billion commitment will revitalise the AIS, boost high‑performance sport, increase participation, reduce injuries, enhance guardrails and sport safety, fund legacy arenas and the connections that allow people to visit them while improving integrity for the benefit of all Australians.

And recent news helps us all. Last week I was honoured to be named Minister for Communications, opening greater synergies for the world’s biggest media event.

Sport and Comms is now in the infrastructure department, and already Sport Integrity Australia have flagged a goal to embed integrity as a design principle of sport infrastructure.

We are also continuing work on our IOC Guarantees.

As part of the candidature process to secure hosting rights, the Albanese Government committed to a range of operational support services.

These include communications, national security, taxation, integrity, safety and safeguarding, and visa handling.

We are committed to delivering on these guarantees, taking a coordinated approach across all involved departments to create solutions.

These threads I’m discussing today are hemmed through Australia’s first ever ten-year plan for sport.

Australia’s National Sport Strategy, Sport Horizon, will capitalise on sport’s power, and outlines my government’s priorities for this sector.

It affirms our commitment to creating a safe, fair, and sustainable sector that grows participation, drives positive social change, grows our economy and strengthens international relationships.

It emphasises the pursuit of gender equity.

For the first time in Australian history, sporting boardrooms across Australia must meet gender equity targets or risk government funding being withdrawn.

I have mandated our sports sector must achieve the following governance targets by no later than 1 July 2027:

50% of all board directors are women and/or gender diverse 

50% of board chairs are women and/or gender diverse 

50% of specified board sub-committee members are women and/or gender diverse.

Because we view sport as a transponder for social change. 

As President Bach says, sport builds bridges, never erects walls.

And… we must remember this – 

The Games’ most valuable treasure – is its athletes. 

It is not about politicians or political point-scoring.

Our job is to work with Federations to create environments where brilliance thrives, and then… get out of the way.

Our job is to enable athletic moments to replace monoliths in 2032.

So that grass right there conjures the next Cortnee Vine.

So the aquatic centre a kilometre away creates history like Kirsty did in Athens and Beijing. 

So Victoria Park is an amphitheatre for our next Cathy Freeman gold medal euphoria.

I was born and raised in this city… 

I am not just determined, I am obsessed. Brisbane 2032 will be a great Games.

Thank you.

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A new milestone has been reached in efforts to clean up the Tamar Estuary.

Construction of the impressive 10-megalitre storage tank at Ti Tree Bend is progressing with the concrete walls and floors complete and the lid set to be installed.

The tank is part of the Tamar Estuary River Health Action Plan (TERHAP), a collaborative initiative of the Tamar Estuary Management Taskforce (TEMT) and the $609.4 million Launceston City Deal, aimed at improving the health of the Tamar Estuary.

A total of $129.2 million is being invested to implement key urban water infrastructure upgrades, comprising $42.5 million by the Australian and Tasmanian governments, $33.2 million by TasWater and $11 million by the City of Launceston.

Around 80 contractors have been involved in the works, with an average of 30 on site each day.

The transformative project will enhance TasWater’s capacity to manage sewage and stormwater, significantly reducing overflow events and ensuring a cleaner and healthier estuary.

The TERHAP works will result in 387 Megalitres less combined system overflows, of which 34 Megalitres will be sewage. This is nearly 60 per cent less sewage than currently overflows to the estuary.

With the TERHAP project in its final stages, TasWater will turn its attention to the broader picture for greater Launceston’s sewerage network.

Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Regional Development and Local Government, Kristy McBain MP:

“Upgrading Launceston’s sewage and stormwater system will not only ensure it keeps pace with the city’s growing population, it will significantly boost the health of the Kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary, supporting commercial and recreational opportunities on this waterway into the future.

“We are committed to collaborating with all levels of government and investing in the critical infrastructure regional Australians rely on.”

Quotes attributable to Tasmania Minister for Infrastructure, Kerry Vincent:

“The Tasmanian Government has made this strategic investment in improving the efficiency of TasWater’s combined sewerage and stormwater network to secure the health of the Kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary for generations to come.

“This project is about working together to create a healthier environment for our children and grandchildren.

“By working collaboratively we can protect our waterway and ensure Launceston’s critical infrastructure is keeping pace with the growing needs of the community.”
 

Source: Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority

The Albanese and Rockliff Governments are proud to mark a historic milestone for Tasmania, with the official opening of the new Bridgewater Bridge – the largest transport infrastructure project in the state’s history.

The $786 million project represents a significant investment in Tasmania’s future, delivering modern infrastructure that improves connectivity, enhances freight and passenger movement, and supports economic growth across the state.

The Australian Government contributed $628.8 million to the transformative project, with the Tasmanian Government contributing the remaining $157.2 million. The new bridge has been delivered on time and on budget.

The new four-lane bridge will deliver faster, more reliable travel times for commuters, freight operators and locals, significantly reducing bottlenecks on this key section of the highway network.

The new bridge is the fifth to be built across the River Derwent at Bridgewater and symbolises the next chapter in the evolution of this critical transport link.

It replaces ageing infrastructure with a state-of-the-art structure that will serve the people of Tasmania for decades to come. 

The 1.2-kilometre-long crossing will improve safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, with new interchanges, a 3-metre-wide shared path and modern safety features.

The bridge also includes improved access for marine traffic, with a higher clearance and no lift span, reducing delays and improving efficiency for both road and river users.

It has been designed to support growth throughout the region and has been built with a vision towards the future of the state.

Since construction began in October 2022, the project has supported around 1000 jobs, more than 25 per cent of which were employees from the local area.   

Thanks to targeted employment and training programs, the project has created pathways for apprentices, trainees and people new to the civil construction industry to gain real-world experience on a nationally significant construction site.

This ensures the state’s workforce is equipped for the pipeline of future Tasmanian infrastructure projects.

The new bridge will open to traffic from tomorrow (Monday, 2 June) with all four lanes operating at 80 km/h.

Works across the project site will continue over coming weeks, including landscaping, construction of the new roundabout linking Old Main Road and Gunn Street, and removal of the temporary bridge and barges.

For more information about the project and to see the latest flythrough footage, visit the project website at bridgewaterbridge.tas.gov.au.

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese:

“My Government is building Australia’s future by investing in transformative transport infrastructure like the Bridgewater Bridge.

“We have worked with the Tasmanian Government to deliver a landmark project that will improve safety, deliver a better commuter experience, and boost productivity in this great state.

“The Bridgewater Bridge is about more than meeting the needs of Tasmanians today – it’s about making sure that Tasmanians have the world class infrastructure they deserve for generations to come.”

Quotes attributable to Premier of Tasmania Jeremy Rockliff: 

“This is a bridge built by Tasmanians for Tasmanians, and is something that everyone in the State can be proud of.

“The Bridgewater Bridge has been talked about for decades, but together with every person involved in this project, we have delivered it.

“The new Bridge is a testament to what we can achieve in Tasmania when we work together.

“Major infrastructure projects like this inspire, support our economy, upskill our people, and build a better Tasmania: now and for the future.

“I want to acknowledge the Federal Government for working with us to deliver this inter-generational infrastructure for Tasmania.”

Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

“The first Bridgewater Bridge opened in 1848, and today we’re opening the fifth, marking a historic milestone in the history of Tasmania.

“Investing in major infrastructure projects doesn’t just keep people and goods moving, it provides an ongoing boost to local economies through more efficient and effective transport.

“We are proud to partner with the Tasmanian Government and local industry to deliver this important project which will improve safety, support economic growth and leave a lasting legacy for future generations.”

Quotes attributable to Tasmanian Minister for Infrastructure Kerry Vincent: 

“This bridge stands as a testament to what can be achieved when we work together.

“It is more than just concrete and steel. It is a once-in-a-generation project and a symbol of what the future holds for Tasmania.

“I want to thank the local community for their patience and understanding during the construction period.

“The resilience of the local community and the travelling public are what has made this landmark of national significance a success.”

Source: Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority

The iconic WACA Ground multi-million-dollar redevelopment has reached a major milestone with the completion of the highest structural point.

A ‘Topping Out Ceremony’ was attended by project partners, government representatives, WA Cricket officials, and key stakeholders. 

The revitalised WACA Ground will serve as a world-class sporting, arts and entertainment venue for generations to come.

The transformative WACA Ground Improvement Project is a collaborative initiative, jointly funded by the Australian Government, Western Australian Government and City of Perth, in partnership with WA Cricket and Cricket Australia.

This project will help ensure the long-term prosperity and liveability of Perth and drive the city’s economic, social and environmental sustainability, delivering: 

• a boutique multi-use sport and entertainment venue with 10,000 capacity
• state-of-the-art high-performance and community sport facilities, including a 10-lane indoor centre
• a community resort-style aquatic facility, including a six-lane outdoor 50m pool, indoor learn to swim pool and waterslides
• a public café, with indoor and outdoor seating
• a community health, fitness and wellbeing facility overlooking the WACA Ground
• a revitalised museum that honours the rich history and heritage of the WACA Ground and inspires the next generation
• infusion of Aboriginal cultural narrative into the planning and design
• an all-abilities playground and other inclusive facilities.

Construction is being led by ADCO Constructions, one of Australia’s leading builders, whose team has worked closely with project partners on the exciting development.

The redevelopment is on track for completion by November 2025.

More information on the WACA Ground Improvement Project can be accessed at: https://wacaground.com.au/   

Quotes attributable to Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

“We are committed to working alongside the Western Australian Government and the City of Perth to deliver infrastructure that benefits the Perth community.

“Today marks a significant milestone for the WACA Ground redevelopment, which will build on Western Australia’s great sporting legacy.”

Quotes attributable to WA Deputy Premier and Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti:

“Our government’s record investment in sporting infrastructure is helping to support iconic projects like the WACA Ground Improvement project, to service a growing inner-city community and support cricket across all levels.

“We have a long and proud cricket history in this State, and this huge redevelopment of the famous WACA Ground will support our cricketers for many years to come. 

“Importantly, the redevelopment will also provide world-class community facilities and amenity for the growing number of people and families who are moving into the East Perth area.” 

Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Perth Patrick Gorman:

“I am thrilled to see the WACA Ground Improvement project come to life. Families across Perth are looking forward to the benefits this will bring to our city.”

“Our Government will continue to build Western Australia’s future and invest in national results for our local communities.”

Quotes attributable to WA Planning and Lands Minister John Carey: 

“As the population of our inner-city increases, projects like the WACA Ground improvement are crucial to ensuring the community has access to facilities that meet demand.

“It’s great to see progress on this landmark development, which along with the neighbouring new primary school, will be transformative for the east end of our city.

“Our Government is backing a number of projects in the inner city, including the new East Perth Primary School and ECU City Campus that will make Perth more vibrant and liveable.”

Quotes attributable to Deputy Lord Mayor City of Perth Bruce Reynolds:

“The revitalisation of this iconic WA sporting institution is a fantastic example of how all levels of government can come together to deliver new, much-needed community facilities.

“With a multitude of city-shaping projects underway, the City of Perth’s $25 million investment in the WACA aquatic facility — as part of the landmark Perth City Deal — is about building a growing, liveable and sustainable capital for generations to come.”

Quotes attributable to WA Cricket CEO John Stephenson:

“Today’s milestone is a powerful symbol of what can be achieved when sport, government, and community come together with a shared vision. 

“This is more than a cricket project – it’s about creating a precinct that brings people together. We’re proud to be building a space that reflects the spirit and diversity of our community.”

Source: Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority

Goulburn Mulwaree Council has successfully completed over $2.56 million road safety upgrades on a 3.6 kilometre section of Jerrara Road, improving driving conditions and reducing crash risks.

The project focused on smoothing out the road by fixing steep rises, dips, and sharp curves that made driving challenging, especially through areas with rolling hills.

This work was funded by the Australian Government’s Black Spot Program ($1,939,062) and the NSW Government’s Regional Emergency Road Repair Fund ($624,000).

It included shoulder improvements, creation of clear zones, installation of flexible roadside barriers, improved road geometry, curved shoulder upgrades, installation of audio edge and centre lines, and removed sight distance issues at the Jerrara Road intersection. 

Line marking has also been improved. Together, these projects significantly improve safety and accessibility on Jerrara Road for all users.

Quotes attributable to Federal Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Anthony Chisholm: 

“These upgrades formed part of the Albanese Government’s ongoing commitment to improve safety on NSW’s regional roads network.

“We’re determined to do what we can, through initiatives like the Black Spot Program, to ensure people who travel on Australia’s regional road network get home safely each time they travel.” 

Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison: 

“The NSW Government’s Regional Emergency Road Repair Fund supports regional councils to continue vital repair and maintenance work following recent severe weather and natural disasters.

“It’s great to see another project completed which will deliver safer, smoother trips for locals.

“We’re committed to working with regional councils to improve their roads and build the roads they need to help their growing communities prosper.”

Quotes attributable to Mayor of Goulburn Mulwaree Council Nina Dillon: 

“This upgrade represents a major investment in community safety. 

“Jerrara Road is an essential connection for residents, visitors, and freight and these works ensure it is safer and more reliable for everyone who uses it.”

Source: Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority

SANDRA MOON [HOST]: It is 10.37, and you’ve no doubt seen all of the work that has been happening with the Inland Rail Project. There’s been bridge works, track duplication – even a makeover for Wangaratta’s train station is part of the Beveridge to Albury part of the project. And today, that new station is going to officially open. The Federal Minister for Transport and Regional Development, Catherine King, will be there for the formalities, and is with you now. Good morning.

CATHERINE KING [MINISTER]: Good morning, Sandra. Lovely to be here in Wangaratta.

SANDRA MOON: Yeah, it’s a big makeover for the Wangaratta train station.

CATHERINE KING: I’m really looking forward to seeing it. I’ve heard lots about it. This, of course, marks the completion of the work of the first tranche of the Albury to Beveridge section of Inland Rail. Inland Rail is delivering that project on behalf of the Australian Government, and the Wangaratta precinct and the station upgrade, pedestrian underpass, disability standards for the station have been a really great part of the benefit coming to the community from Inland Rail. Not only are we delivering Inland Rail to get freight off our roads as much as we possibly can, but we’re also trying to improve the amenity as we go along the way as we build this project.

SANDRA MOON: And so when we look at Inland Rail for residents in the northeast of the state here, what sort of difference will it make for them?

CATHERINE KING: Well, it’s ostensibly a freight project. So, what we’re trying to do is get from Melbourne to Brisbane. First, we’re doing the section from Melbourne to Parkes to where- and then that allows us to get more freight onto rail. So that’s less trucks travelling on our roads and on our interstate routes in particular, where there’s a heavy load from our heavy vehicles, so trying to get more freight on. So really, Inland Rail delivers that, and productivity and freight.

But as we’ve gone along the road, we’ve actually improved road access. We’ve been improving pedestrian access. In the case of Wangaratta, of course, improving the station and also bringing up its disability compliance as well, which some of these older stations have really struggled with.

SANDRA MOON: And when it’s finished, the Government has promised that freight will get from Brisbane to Melbourne in less than 24 hours. How far off that are we?

CATHERINE KING: Well, we did a major review when we came to government three years ago, the Schott review, to really look at what was happening with Inland Rail. It was a project that had, frankly, blown out in costs. There had been some significant problems in terms of the way in which it was being managed, so we had a lot of work to do to clean that up. We accepted all of the recommendations of the Schott review. What we’ve been concentrating on is getting the Inland Rail project built to Parkes – that opens us up to being able to get freight to the west and also into Port of Botany and into Newcastle. And we’re progressing with the work to get planning approval – we haven’t got planning approval yet – through the rest of New South Wales and then into Queensland, and then we’ll start construction once we’ve got those planning approvals in place. But we’ve had to do quite a bit of work in government to really clean this project up, and there’s some big investments that we’ll still need to make.

SANDRA MOON: Well, it certainly is an absolutely huge project, and I’m sure that there’ll be many people in the local area that are happy to see the completion of some of these as they start to roll out.

CATHERINE KING: It’s a really complex project. It’s over 1600 kilometres of track, which is basically the biggest infrastructure project in the country. And it is also- as I said, it’s interacting between freight and passenger route as well. And so that, again, adds to the complexities. You’ve got to keep passenger trains- you’ve got to be able to keep trains going at the same time as you’re building this really significant infrastructure project.

SANDRA MOON: On ABC Goulburn Murray, you’re hearing from the Federal Minister for Transport and Regional Development, Catherine King, who is also the Minister for Local Government. So, while I do have you, we’ve heard a lot from state inquiries around councils really struggling to make ends meet. You referred the issue to a federal inquiry last year, and councils are expected to struggle even more when the Victorian Government’s new emergency services levy comes into force – which, of course, has been extremely controversial in this part of the world. What will the Federal Government be doing this term to help councils be even more sustainably funded?

CATHERINE KING: Well, the first thing is, as you have quite rightly pointed out, local government is a level of government in and of its own right, and it interacts most closely with state governments, and state governments have responsibilities in relation to local government. At the federal level, we’ve had- we obviously provide millions of dollars in financial assistance grants, which recognises that there is some infrastructure and services that are beyond the capacity of councils to raise rates for in and of their own right. And the Federal Government has an interest, particularly in things like child care and aged care, in terms of those sorts of services, but also making sure that they’ve got untied money for roads.

A while back, we also recognised that because of particularly the 2022 weather events that many councils were struggling, and post-COVID struggling with the costs of keeping up with some of those roads. So, we wanted to make a contribution to that. We’re not responsible 100 per cent for that, but what we did is we doubled the amount of Roads to Recovery, and that’ll steadily climb in our term up to $1 billion dollars. So that’s a billion dollars per year that will be distributed to councils. We received an interim report that was tabled at that House of Reps committee. They’ll, I assume, reconvene and continue with their work and provide the Parliament with a final report, and the Government will look at that and look at the recommendations of what we can implement.

In particular, I think where the Federal Government really is looking for assistance from local government is in the delivery of the 1.2 million homes. Local government has a really significant role to play in assisting, particularly in improving the planning process to get those homes up and built as quickly as possible, and to add to the productivity of the construction sector. So, if we’re going to do things in relation to local government, it will be in relation to issues like that.

SANDRA MOON: Well, we thank you for your time this morning, and I’m sure that you will understand if we’re not unhappy if it does rain just a little bit today, that would be great.

CATHERINE KING: [Laughs] Absolutely. Out my way- my electorate’s Ballarat, and we’re as dry- have been as dry as anything. We’re pretty windy today, so I hear, but just the rain is so, so welcome. Despite the fact that it’s got cold, we really desperately need the rain.

SANDRA MOON:  We do indeed.

CATHERINE KING: It’s terrible to see, you know? What a country. We’ve got drought through South Australia and Vic and WA, and floods in New South Wales. Just horrendous at the moment.

SANDRA MOON:  Yeah. Thank you again for your time.

CATHERINE KING: Good to be with you, Sandra.

SANDRA MOON:  Federal Minister for Transport and Regional Development, that’s Catherine King, who is in in town in Wangaratta for the official opening of the Wangaratta train station as part of the Inland Rail Network, with the sort of Beveridge to Albury part of the project.