Hunter Nationals candidate Michael Johnsen said under a Coalition government the Muswellbrook bypass would be included in the next round of the Auslink program.

“The long-awaited project was committed to by the Nationals in the 2007 federal election, ignored by Labor and desperately needed by the Muswellbrook community,” Mr Johnsen said.

“Had the electorate of Hunter been a marginal seat, I suspect Labor may have given this vital issue the attention it needs.

“I am determined to ensure that, without a mining tax, the Hunter will get investment into infrastructure such as the Muswellbrook bypass under a Coalition government.

“I am sick of waiting and relying on hollow promises from Labor and I am look-ing forward to getting

the Muswellbrook bypass underway.”

But Member for Hunter Joel Fitzgibbon said Labor had planned and selected the route for the Muswellbrook bypass when it was last in government in 1996.

“Then for 11 and a half years, the Coalition did absolutely nothing and as a result, the original cost has blown out three fold,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

“As this amount of time has elapsed, the route corridor is now in need of review and at the moment no one is sure of what is the right route and how much it would cost.

“So this committment can’t be made because these key points haven’t been addressed.

“The first step is to find the best way forward and the most affordable option.”

Mr Fitzgibbon said the federal government’s minerals resource rent tax was designed to finance the regional infrastructure fund, which would fund economic infrastructure in coal regions.

“Projects like the Musw-ellbrook bypass would be eligible to gain money from that fund,” he said.

“But if the Coalition get into government, that fund will be abolished, along with the mining tax.”