THE Federal Government says councils across Australia could be disappointed after a Bill aimed at improving local roads failed to pass through the Senate last week.
On Friday Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Warren Truss said the Land Transport Amendment Bill had been halted with suggestions of “unacceptable” amendments by the Opposition.
Mr Truss said as a result of the flagging Bill, the Roads to Recovery program worth $2.1billion to councils nationwide had been put at risk.
Mr Truss said none of the $2.1b Roads to Recovery program, which expired on June 30, could be paid to councils until the Bill was passed.
City of Mandurah chief executive Mark Newman said any potential loss of funding from the Roads to Recovery program would be a “great loss” to the City.
“The program has contributed significantly to the City’s funding requirements over the past 10 years and has helped to ensure that our assets are maintained,” Mr Newman said.
“The City will assess the situation when a final outcome on the legislation has been reached by Federal Parliament.”
Brand MP Gary Gray called for the Coalition to bring forward the Bill for a vote.
“The only parties putting Roads to Recovery at risk are the Liberal and National parties; Labor is not opposing this funding,” he said.
“If the Government is serious about securing funding for local road projects, they should stop playing politics and bring forward their Bill so we can vote on it.”
Canning MP Don Randall said Mandurah had benefited from Roads to Recovery with infrastructure such as a connecting road from Mandurah train station to the city centre.
He said the Coalition Government would continue to “stand up for local communities and fight to get the legislation through Parliament.”
Mr Truss said the Coalition would fight to get the Bill through Parliament when it resumes next month.