New analysis shows governments across Australia are spending at least four times more on building roads and bridges than on public transport infrastructure.

 

Analysis by the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) shows over the past decade all levels of governments spent 4.3 times more on construction of public roads and bridges than on public railway construction.

 

The report includes a graph showing each state’s 10 year average spending on roads versus spending on other transport, as a percentage of gross state product (GSP).

While $11.3 billion was spent on road construction around the country in 2008-9, $5 billion was given away as subsidies by the Federal Government through the Fuel Tax Credits program and another $1 billion was spent through the Fringe Benefits Tax to encourage the private use of company cars. 

 

Meanwhile just $3.3 billion was spent on rail construction in 2008-9.

 

The full report is available here.