Labor to force states to pay more for infrastructure projects

Labor will push states to pay for at least half of new road and rail projects and will only back work where its contribution is at least $250 million under an overhaul of how the federal government funds major infrastructure.

Transport Minister Catherine King will announce the changes at The Australian Financial Review Infrastructure Summit on Tuesday, part of reforms designed to force states to share greater accountability for infrastructure delivery – including budget blowouts – and limit federal government involvement to projects of “national significance”.