Budget 2022: Regions

Transport infrastructure for our regions

The Government is committing an additional $678.0 million to seal a further 1,000km of roads on the Outback Way, a 2,720km route that links Laverton in Western Australia with Winton in Queensland via Alice Springs.

This additional investment builds on the $330.0 million the Government has invested in the Outback Way since 2013 and will support over 2,000 jobs across Northern Australia.

This Budget also provides an additional $880.0 million for Roads of Strategic Importance, $385.4 million for the Northern Australia Roads Program and $150.0 million for the Inland Rail Interface Improvement Program.

These programs will upgrade essential roads and community infrastructure in regional communities, helping to drive the growth of regional Australia.

Boosting the Modern Manufacturing Strategy and Addressing Critical Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

The Government will provide an additional $328.3 million over 5 years from 2021-22 to further support the Modern Manufacturing Strategy and National Manufacturing Priorities (NMPs) and address critical supply chain vulnerabilities. Funding includes:

• $250.0 million over 2 years from 2022-23 to extend the Modern Manufacturing Initiative to support businesses in NMP sectors to deliver high-impact projects
• $53.9 million over 4 years from 2021-22 to extend the Manufacturing Modernisation Fund to support technology adoption in NMPs
• $6.9 million over 2 years from 2021-22 to develop Manufacturing Investment Plans
to guide government and industry investment in NMPs.

The Government will also address further critical supply chain pressure.

Partial funding for this measure has already been provided for by the Government. This measure builds on the 2021-22 MYEFO measure Supporting Industry Growth and National Manufacturing Priorities.