Our National Innovation and Science Agenda will see an additional $145 million invested to boost collaboration and encourage stronger linkages between universities and industry.
We will invest $54 million under the National Diabetes Services Scheme to provide more affordable access to continuous glucose monitoring technology for children and young people under 21 years of age facing extra challenges managing their diabetes who would benefit most from this technology.
We invest in the Great Barrier Reef based on the best available scientific advice. We have already invested $461 million in reef funding as part of a broader $2 billion ten year plan by Australian governments focussed on water quality, reducing run off and eradicating crown-of-thorns starfish. In addition to the existing $2 billion plan, the Coalition will create a new and profoundly important $1 billion Reef Fund focussed on the great task of improving Reef water quality.
The Coalition will invest $5 million in a new Threatened Species Recovery Fund. The Threatened Species Recovery Fund will provide funding for community-led work to protect our unique wildlife. The Threatened Species Commissioner will ensure the Fund is able to leverage additional funding for protecting threatened species.
The Coalition will invest $30 million in a plan to support your local parks and environment. We will deliver grants to local councils, community groups, environment groups and others to support the revitalisation, maintenance, management and improvement of local parks, including nature reserves, rivers, coastal areas and community facilities.
We will commit a further $43 million for the Flinders Link rail project, building a 650-metre extension of the Tonsley rail line to the Flinders Medical Centre and Flinders University. Flinders Link creates a new transport interchange at the Flinders Medical Centre and a shared path for cyclists and pedestrians. This investment will reduce travel time to the CBD by 30 minutes and improve accessibility to Flinders University and South Australia’s second largest hospital – benefitting over 26,000 people who work or study in the area.
The Coalition will provide $24 million toward the upgrade of the Cairns Marine Precinct. Our commitment will support the enhancement and modernisation of shipyards within the Cairns Marine Precinct, ensuring improved capability and capacity of existing maritime infrastructure.
We will do more to support jobs and growth through greater investment in Queensland’s water infrastructure. The Coalition will invest $20 million to support the development or finalisation of feasibility assessments and business cases for 14 water infrastructure projects across Queensland.
If re-elected, the Coalition will invest a further $60 million in the Mobile Black Spot Programme, building on our recent $160 million investment. This new commitment brings our total funding to tackle mobile black spots to $220 million since the Coalition was elected in 2013.
We will invest $150 million toward the Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor. The Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor is an eight kilometres rail freight line that will connect the North Coast Line directly into the Port of Townsville. The project is important to the economic growth of Townsville, local jobs, and the export capabilities of our country.