Hundreds of ‘press release’ infrastructure projects across Australia risk the axe under new 90-day review

Hundreds of projects in Australia's $120bn infrastructure investment program will be reviewed for value and significance, with the Albanese government accusing the Coalition of leaving them as "fiscal timebombs" in the budget.

The infrastructure minister, Catherine King, said the infrastructure pipeline had been clogged with "press release projects" that had been announced but were "unable to be delivered".

Every construction project that has not commenced will be under the microscope, with unsuitable projects facing cuts or being scaled back.

"This review will put confidence back into the investment pipeline, benefiting the states and territories and the communities we all serve," King said.

"Australian government funds will be spent in accordance with Australian government values, with longer-term sustainable spending based on the national interest."

Former public servants and infrastructure experts Reece Waldock, Clare Gardiner-Barnes and Mike Mrdak will conduct the 90-day review, which will start shortly and report around August. Hundreds of the more than 735 projects in the infrastructure investment program will be up for scrutiny - but Labor election commitments will not be among them.

Instead, King said the focus would be on commitments from the previous Coalition government, many of which she claimed cannot be delivered.

"Projects were left without adequate funding or resources, projects without real benefits to the public were approved, and the clogged pipeline has caused delays and overruns in important, nation-building projects," the minister's office said in a statement.

"Many projects under the Liberals and Nationals never even started."

Labor in opposition accused the Coalition of using infrastructure programs as "pork barrel" funds to bankroll election sweeteners. King said there were 160 projects worth less than $5m, which she said were not the sort of "nationally significant and nation-building" developments that the fund was meant to deliver.

"The proper management of the $120bn infrastructure investment pipeline should lead to projects that are able to be built, that have a lasting benefit for Australia, and enhance our economic and social productivity and prosperity," she said.

The fund has grown to 738 projects, up from 146 under the last federal Labor government in 2013. About 400 of those have a government contribution of less than $25m.

King committed the government to "following through" on projects which have already commenced construction.

The review will also take into account supply chain issues affecting the construction sector, including worker shortages and the increased cost of materials like gravel and bitumen. King said the review would also take into account "easing the pressure on the construction sector".

King did not specify whether the review would look to scale back any particular types of projects, but government sources noted the major infrastructure fund had been used to fund smaller projects like traffic lights or culverts.

The government also pointed out that only 19% of smaller projects with a federal contribution of less than $50m were located in Labor-held seats before the last election.

"Leaving these fiscal timebombs wasn't an accident, it was [the Coalition's] deliberate budget strategy, covering up their incompetence and hoping Australians wouldn't find out. It would be irresponsible of the government not to act to fix this," King said.

"Australia should have a pipeline of land transport infrastructure projects that are genuinely nation-building, economically sustainable and resilient to our changing climate."

State and territory government agreed to the review when national cabinet met on Friday. Those governments will be consulted throughout the review and be able to lobby for projects they want to keep or give feedback on those they don't believe to be priorities.

After national cabinet, Anthony Albanese said his government was "adopting a refreshed approach to infrastructure investment".