South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program

• It’s helpful for the Albanese government to have all mainland states in Labor hands – but only up to a point.
• In May, the government announced a 90-day review of the $120 billion infrastructure pipeline it inherited from the Coalition.
• The government’s aim was to reduce the number of projects (many of them small) and rearrange priorities.
• The political difficulties of abolishing or changing projects, often involving negotiation with states and territories, are obvious enough.
• The government has received its stocktake, and Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the overall cost of the program has blown out by some $33 billion.
• Being pushed into minority is something Albanese – a senior figure in the minority Gillard government – would want to avoid at all costs.
• The challenge of keeping out of minority increases the importance of the “ground game” in Labor’s marginal electorates.

Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.