As the Coalition fights to wrench the massive Northern Territory seat of Lingiari from Labor, the Deputy Prime Minister is set to unveil a major funding commitment for a network of desert roads and highways known as the Outback Way.
The route stretches almost 3,000 kilometres from Winton in Western Queensland to Laverton in regional Western Australia and cuts through Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, passing directly by the internationally renowned icons in the heart of the nation.
Barnaby Joyce has confirmed the federal government will spend an extra $678 million to continue sealing and upgrading the roads.
The new money will fund tar being applied to another 1,000 kilometres of the roads, with a large portion to connect Alice Springs through to WA, including a notorious stretch of gravel road between the national park and Laverton.
The government estimates to will create 2,197 jobs across Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Mr Joyce arrived in Alice Springs over the weekend ahead of a formal announcement planned for Monday.
It comes just a couple of days after the Prime Minister visited the tourist town that experienced a severe economic decline during the COVID-19 lockdowns and through the closure of the international border.
A map of the Outback Way showing the breakdown of the funding announcement. Source: Supplied
Long-serving Labor MP Warren Snowdon is retiring and the seat of Lingiari is being contested by former Alice Springs Mayor Damien Ryan for the Country Liberal Party. Labor is fielding well-known former Northern Territory Cabinet Minister Marion Scrymgour.
"The Government is committed to sealing the entire 2,720 kilometres of Outback Way and today's funding commitment will help get the job done, cutting travel times for freight and tourists while giving residents along the route improved access to the supplies they need to live," a government statement confirming the funding said.
Over the weekend, Labor announced a $200 million Northern Territory Strategic Roads Package, which is also targeted at paving road networks in remote areas on the territory including the Mereenie Loop which connects the Uluru Kata Tjuta world heritage area with another jewel in the Central Australian tourism crown called Kings Canyon and Alice Springs.
“It's about safety. But it's also about economic activity. It's about employment. It's about making sure, particularly during the wet season, that you can continue to have this activity,” Anthony Albanese said.
"It will make a big difference, particularly in Marion's (Scrymgour) future electorate of Lingiari."
He said the timeframe for the outlay of the commitment would depend on negotiations with the Northern Territory Government.
Proponents of the Outback Bay have spent 25 years lobbying governments for the road network to be sealed.
“Today’s announcement paves the way for sealing this new strategic link through the nation. It elevates the connection across Australia to a whole new dimension, most importantly it will enable and connect the most remote communities in Australia,” said Cr Patrick Hill Chairman Outback Highway Development Council and President of Shire of Laverton.
“The current industry value of the industries across the nation is $5.3 billion, a sealed Outback Way will unlock significant additional industry development and opportunities for the freight, agriculture, tourism manufacturing and mining sectors, across Australia. The Outback Way will enhance our national freight and supply chain efficiency with time savings and connection to intermodal hubs,” Mr Hill added.
