KEY POINTS:
Australian prime minister John Howard has turned his attention to spending money. Lots of it.
Mr Howard said his government will make a major announcement on broadband services later this week.
This largesse comes on top of a reported A$19 billion ($21.8 billion) for roads of national significance and his opening of the A$518 million Albury Wodonga bypass yesterday on the NSW-Victoria border.
"One of the most important responsibilities of the commonwealth government is to provide infrastructure for the future growth and development of our nation," Mr Howard said in his weekly radio address.
"Yesterday I opened the new Hume Highway Albury Wodonga bypass, which at a cost of A$518 million, is the largest infrastructure investment of that kind in regional Australia for many years."
The bypass is also a significant step in the government delivering on its promise to duplicate the Hume Highway.
"There is, of course, the A$10 billion commonwealth plan to mix the Murray-Darling Basin system and provide long term water security for our nation," Mr Howard said.
"Later this week there will be announcements made which will greatly enhance the access of Australians to broadband services.
"These are but some of the infrastructure investments that the commonwealth is making.
"They are important to our economic growth and to our future.
"They are made possible, and they are affordable, because of the strong economic management of the government over the last 11 years."
- AAP
