While the Nationals are claiming it as a significant landmark win for delivery to regional Australia, Mr Albanese said the Labor party already funded a study for the Melbourne to Brisbane rail line and put $600 million in the budget which has already been spent. 

He said the $8.4b that will allow the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) to finance the rail project’s construction was “all off budget”. 

“They are pretending that it will produce a return without any actual government investment.”