Items Tagged With "Stimulus"

A key milestone in the modernisation of the East West rail corridor has been reached with two new passing loops between Kalgoorlie and the Western Australia/South Australia border now completed.

Part of the Rudd Labor Government’s Economic Stimulus Plan, each project involved the construction of a new 1,850 metre passing loop and turnouts as well as the laying of 3,000 new concrete sleepers and four kilometres of new track.

*Release with Richard Marles

The Rudd Government today announced the completion of the final stage of the $105 million upgrade of the rail link between Melbourne and the South Australian border today.

Lindsay Tanner, Federal Minister for Finance and Deregulation and Member for Melbourne said the project was brought forward thanks to the Australian Government’s $1.2 billion stimulus investment in December 2008.

Over the coming twelve months the Rudd Labor Government's ambitious infrastructure program will step up another gear, with construction work expected to get underway on major road and rail projects worth more than $20 billion.

As part of our Nation Building Program work will commence this year on a large number of major transport projects, including:

                    * Regional Rail Link (VIC) - $4.2 billion;

The IMF in its latest World Economic Outlook released overnight is forecasting a strengthening global economy, but cautions that the recovery remains fragile in many parts of the world and that policy efforts are still needed to sustain the recovery.

The IMF's Global Financial Stability Report, also released overnight, highlights the improvement in the global financial system, but also points to significant remaining challenges.

*Release with  Amanda Rishworth

Federal Minister for Housing Tanya Plibersek today visited a $5.5 million housing project at Hackham where 16 new homes are being constructed under the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan.

The two and three bedroom homes, being built by Qattro property services, will be energy efficient and have solar power hot water systems and rain water tanks.

Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery Mark Arbib today called on Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to reveal which Economic Stimulus projects would go under a Coalition Government.

Senator Arbib said Mr Abbott today repeated calls for the stimulus to be wound back but was still yet to reveal which projects he would cut.

“Mr Abbott must today come clean with the hundreds of businesses and workers relying on the Federal Government's Stimulus Package as to which projects he will cut,” Senator Arbib said.

Official data released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries shows a strong upward trend in new vehicle sales during the second half of 2009.
Welcoming the vehicle sales figures for 2009 released today, Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr said the Rudd Government's Small and General Business Tax Break had really hit the mark in delivering key stimulus to the automotive industry.

The Rudd Government today
announced that at least 50 per cent of new social housing units delivered under
the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan will be provided to homeless
Australians, or those at risk of homelessness.

The announcement was made
on the first anniversary of the launch of the Australian Government's
Homelessness White Paper.

"Through the White Paper we
have made reducing homelessness a national priority," Minister for Housing Tanya
Plibersek said.