Joint media release - McIntosh and McKenzie - Labor's Fifteenth Avenue go-slow

Melissa McIntosh MP
Shadow Minister for Communications
Shadow Minister for Western Sydney
Federal Member for Lindsay

Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
Leader of The National in the Senate

11 March 2025

Labor’s Fifteenth Avenue go-slow:
a road for the 2026 Airport opening now due in 2040

The NSW Government’s Aerotropolis Sector Plan has revealed the Fifteenth Avenue upgrade will not be achieved until 2040.

On 19 January, the Prime Minister and NSW Premier stood side-by-side as they promised the Werriwa community the delivery of two lanes each way along Fifteenth Avenue.

Fifteenth Avenue is currently a pot-holed corridor for commuters and freight connecting Liverpool CBD with Bradfield and the new Western Sydney Airport.

An upgrade is needed and is why the Dutton Coalition team announced a $500 million co-contribution to partner with the NSW Government to get the road built to also better road access for the large housing development at Austral and surrounds. 

Shadow Minister for Western Sydney, Melissa McIntosh said the delay of the Fifteenth Avenue upgrade is another example of Labor’s contempt for South West Sydney.

“Western Sydney is tired of the Albanese Labor Government making commitments without any delivery,” said Mrs McIntosh.

“Western Sydney International Airport is opening next year, but the Minns Labor Government’s document has highlighted the Fifteenth Avenue will not be online until 2040. This is a major upset for South West Sydney.

“Infrastructure Minister Catherine King cut funding for projects across Western Sydney, including planning for Fifteenth Avenue, in her ’90-day review’ years ago and announced money she ripped away as new funding.

“The Coalition wants the Airport to be a success, but at every corner Labor has talked it down or deprioritised funding that would ensure the pot-holed semi-rural roads get upgraded as soon as possible.

“Departmental officials did not answer questions at Senate Estimates in February about Fifteenth Avenue and how much would be spent at what period of time.”

Shadow Infrastructure and Transport Minister Bridget McKenzie said 2040 was far too long to wait for the long suffering commuters of Western Sydney.

“First they were told three or four years now there are serious discrepancies in the stories being put out between the NSW Labor Government and an increasingly desperate Albanese Government that knows it has neglected Western Sydney,” Senator McKenzie said.

“The build time has jumped nearly a decade since January.”