Andrew Constance wasted no time urging his federal Coalition counterparts and Labor to pledge $4 billion for the Princes Highway.
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In the lead-up to the federal election, the NSW Infrastructure Minister and Bega MP has called for a bi-partisan commitment to duplicate the highway initially from the Sussex Inlet intersection to Bodalla - and then to the Victorian border.
Speaking in the week after his re-election in the March 23 NSW poll, Mr Constance said the state government had either invested or pledged $4 billion for the highway - and so should the national government.
On April 1, the Coalition promised $500 million for the highway, but Mr Constance wants the federal government to match NSW's program.
"We have spent in excess of $2 billion as a state government duplicating the highway to the Jervis Bay turnoff," he said on March 27 at the Batemans Bay bridge construction site.
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"We have got the road duplicated from Sydney down to Jervis Bay and we are investing three quarters of a billion dollars at Albion Park.
"What we now need is for Canberra to match that contribution, along with the commitment we made in the state election to build the Moruya bypass and the duplication of the highway between Jervis Bay and Sussex Inlet.
"If they were to match that, we could get the road duplicated all the way to Tuross.
"We see a major accident every week on the highway south of Jervis Bay. We have seen 30 lives lost in recent times, so we are very keen to convince the national government to match dollar-for-dollar the contribution we have made."
Mr Constance said a bi-partisan approach was needed.
"It is key," he said.
"There is an opportunity, given the tight federal election, for both the federal Libs and the federal Labor party to look very closely at what the state has done and step up.
"Canberra should get in and fund Sussex Inlet to Milton, and Burrill Lake to Batemans Bay and Batemans Bay to Moruya and then down to Bodalla. That would be fantastic."
Federal funds were also needed further south.
"There are vital projects further south down at Brogo Pass and between Victoria and Dignams creeks and I am working closely with Fiona Kotvos, the Liberal candidate on that, but I would say to the national government, 'we need your input'," he said.
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