The Australian: East West Link project decision will cause jobs carnage: Tony Abbott 16 Apr 2015
East West link ‘jobs carnage’Tony Abbott said the tollway project was a vital infrastructure project. Source: News Corp Australia
The prime minister insists East West Link is not dead, despite the Victorian government’s opposition and a consortium agreeing to walk away from the project.
Tony Abbott also says $3 billion in Commonwealth funding set aside for stage one and two of the tollway would remain in a “locked box” awaiting a Victorian government that would build it. The Andrews government on Wednesday announced a $339 million agreement with the East West Connect consortium to cover its costs sunk into the project, to finally end it.
Mr Abbott said not to proceed with the project was “wrong-headed”, and the ultimate cost to tax payers would be much higher.
