Australia to invest USD157m over seven years towards transport priorities

Australia's Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced (14-May-2024) the government will provide AUD237.7 million (USD157.5 million) over seven years from 2023/24 and AUD2.3 million (USD1.5 million) p/a ongoing to support aviation, road, rail and maritime transport priorities, including:

• AUD101.9 million (USD67.5 million) over five years and AUD800,000 (USD529,912) p/a ongoing to extend the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program and the Regional Airports Program for two additional rounds, and continue the Remote Aerodrome Inspection Programme to improve aviation safety and access at remote airstrips and regional airports;
• AUD10.1 million (USD6.7 million) over four years from 2024/25 and AUD1.5 million (USD993,842) p/a ongoing to implement reforms to the Sydney Airport Demand Management Compliance Framework to strengthen the compliance regime, enhance aviation competition and support regulatory functions for the protection of airspace above and around federal leased airports;
• AUD5.2 million (USD3.4 million) in 2024/25 to support ongoing safety investigative services provided by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and continued work on sustainable funding arrangements for the ATSB, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. [more - original PR]