A MESSAGE FROM THE PRIME MINISTER

19April 2014

(Translation of this article appears in Arabic section)

(Click on the below link to listen to the audio)

http://picosong.com/evat

This week the Government continued to deliver on our commitment to build the infrastructure of the 21st century.

We are working with state governments around Australia to deliver major roads – from the Bruce Highway in Queensland to the East West Link in Melbourne to the Swan Bypass in Perth.

This week, the Government decided finally to build an airport in Western Sydney.

It is a decision that successive governments have put off for fifty years.

A Western Sydney airport is important infrastructure for our whole country – as 40 per cent of all international arrivals and departures go through Sydney as well as 50 per cent of all Australia’s air freight.

Its construction will generate thousands of jobs and in time it will provide up to 60,000 new jobs.

And we are backing it up with major investments for Western Sydney roads – with the Commonwealth providing $3.5 billion in new road funding that will create 4,000 new jobs over the next ten years.

Investments in infrastructure are investments in the economy of our future.

We are delivering on our plan to build a strong and prosperous economy by building better infrastructure, scrapping bad taxes, cutting red tape and encouraging more trade.

Now this coming week, we celebrate Easter and we commemorate ANZAC Day.

I hope all Australians are enjoying their Easter break with their family.  It is a time to give thanks and rejoice for the good things in life that we share.

On ANZAC Day, we honour those who have served our country in war and peace.  We remember the 100,000 men and women who have given their lives in our name.

I hope as many Australians as possible can participate in Anzac Day ceremonies around our country – and ensure that we are a country not only of memorials, but of memory as well.