$40 MILLION TO SEAL THE DEAL FOR HANN HIGHWAY

THE Liberal and Nationals Government will invest an extra $40 million to complete the sealing of the Hann Highway, cutting 12 hours off the drive from Mareeba to Melbourne.

Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Matt Canavan and LNP candidate for Kennedy Frank Beveridge said the extra funding would see the entire Hann Highway on the Kennedy Developmental Road sealed, locking in the productivity benefits for North Queensland produce growers.

“This is an investment that delivers real benefits to North Queenslanders and puts extra money back in the pockets of growers,” LNP candidate for Kennedy Frank Beveridge said.

“North Queensland’s bananas, avocados and other fruits and vegetables are in demand across Australian markets.  By finishing the sealing of the Hann Highway we will make sure growers can get their produce to market faster, more efficiently and more safely.

“This investment gets us the best return on our agricultural and horticultural industries in North Queensland,” Mr Beveridge said.

Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Matt Canavan said the Hann Highway was part of one of Australia’s most important freight networks.

“The Coalition Government began the work sealing the Highway under the $600 million Northern Australia Roads Program, a key part of our plan to develop the North. We are committed to seeing the job finished,” Senator Canavan said.

“The savings can flow directly into local communities in North Queensland. That money would be better spent creating new jobs and investing in business improvements rather than on lost transport costs.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals’ Leader Michael McCormack said the funding would make this important Highway safer and boost productivity.

“By developing our regional highways, it makes the freight system more efficient, local businesses will also have more money to invest in their operations, creating more jobs and providing a vital shot in the arm for the agriculture and mining sectors, which are so important to Central and North Queensland jobs and communities,” Mr McCormack said.

The extra $40 million will be delivered under the Roads of Strategic Importance program, a $4.5 billion investment from the Coalition Government which targets road upgrades to connect agricultural and mining regions to ports and airports. $730 million is being invested in North Queensland.