News | 10 April

The Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) has welcomed the Coalition’s announcement of two new Future Fund vehicles, including a $20 billion Regional Australia Future Fund, as a practical and forward-looking commitment to securing long-term investment in the infrastructure that matters to regional communities.

Seeded from 80 per cent of future commodity revenue windfalls, the Regional Australia Future Fund represents a new, sustainable approach to funding strategic regional infrastructure. It provides contractors with greater certainty that the investments they rely on to employ local workers and deliver community-shaping projects will continue into the future.

“The civil construction industry has long called for greater funding certainty to deliver the essential infrastructure that underpins Australia’s economy and improves the lives of people in the regions,” said CCF National CEO Nicholas Proud.

“This proposed fund offers a smart and stable mechanism to make that happen using the future fund DNA that has over two decades of proven worth for delivery of Australia’s greatest needs.

Local roads make up over 75 per cent of Australia’s road network, yet many regional councils struggle to maintain them—let alone invest in significant upgrades.

This backlog in last-kilometre infrastructure, including local roads, freight routes, and water treatment plants, is a bottleneck that stifles housing development and economic opportunities.

”CCF also urges the Albanese Government to match this commitment and ensure bipartisan support for sustained investment in regional infrastructure,” Proud said.

“The future fund has over two decades of proven worth for delivery of Australia’s greatest needs and Australia

“We hope to see this initiative embraced by other parties—because long-term regional development shouldn’t be a partisan issue.

“This is about giving communities the infrastructure they need and giving contractors the certainty they deserve so they can invest in their businesses and increase local capacity to build roads, bridges and other vital infrastructure.” he said.

Nicholas Proud, National CEO – Civil Contractors Federation

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