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Shorten to promise $500m towards Adelaide tram network

Monday, 16 May 2016 22:34:51 | Caitlyn Gribbin

The South Australian Government is preparing a business case for extensive tram network. (Matt Coleman: ABC News)

The Federal Opposition has returned to a familiar election campaign theme and will today make a $500 million infrastructure commitment for a tram network in Adelaide's inner suburbs.

Key points:

  • Shorten to announce Labor would spend $500m to extend AdeLINK
  • Extensive tram network is expected to create 2,000 jobs
  • Government will spend $5b to fund major public transport projects
  • Head to Australia Votes for more election coverage

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will travel to Adelaide and announce that a Labor government would spend half a billion dollars to help extend Adelaide's so-called AdeLINK tram network.

Before the election was called, the Opposition's infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese said the Labor Party was committed to making the public transport project a priority, but did not specify how much money would be put towards it.

The South Australian Government is preparing a business case for the extensive tram network, which is expected to cost $3 billion and create 2,000 jobs, but still needs Commonwealth funding.

Labor said its investment would kick-start the project, which Infrastructure Australia has flagged as a medium-term solution to overcoming urban congestion in Adelaide in the next five to 10 years.

Before the 1950s, Adelaide had one of the most extensive tram networks of the era — covering the city and inner suburbs — but it was ripped up to make way for buses and cars.

Today, Adelaide only has one tram connecting the beachside suburb of Glenelg to the city's CBD and entertainment centre.

The Federal Government has already announced it will use a $5 billion fund to pay for major public transport projects, including the Melbourne Metro and Sydney Metro rail projects.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has already visited South Australia in the first week of the campaign to shore up Coalition seats in the state.

The Government's promise to build Australia's new fleet of submarines in Adelaide has helped them ring-fence seats, but the Opposition is still confident it can pick up the seat of Hindmarsh in Adelaide's west.

Labor is also targeting slightly safer Liberal seats, including Boothby, Sturt and Mayo, where candidates running under Nick Xenophon's banner are making the race more unpredictable.

AustraliaPlus


 

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