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Abbott to consider Vic transport in break

Tony Abbott says he is happy to work with Victoria's Labor Premier Daniel Andrews but wants the East West Link to go ahead.

Traffic is seen on a freeway in Melbourne
Tony Abbott will consider Victoria's infrastructure future over the summer break. (AAP)

Prime Minister Tony Abbott will consider Victoria's infrastructure future over the summer break but says the federal government won't fund urban rail projects.

Mr Abbott says he is happy to work with new Premier Daniel Andrews but maintains the Commonwealth won't fund projects such as Labor's estimated $9 billion Melbourne Metro Rail.

"They've got a list of infrastructure projects they would like to see some support for and I've taken the list away, and I'll be carefully studying that over the break," he told ABC radio on Thursday.

"We both agree the Tullamarine widening should go ahead, there are other projects like the Great Ocean Road which will obviously go ahead and he, I think, is going to look very much at the asset recycling fund."

Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas has conceded Labor's metro rail tunnel, a key election plank, will be difficult to deliver without federal funding but says the government won't give up on it.

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Mr Abbott said the Commonwealth wouldn't fund urban rail projects, which were wholly state owned and operated, but maintained the asset recycling fund was there to help.

He has repeatedly said $3 billion of federal money set aside for the East West Link is not transferable to other Victorian projects.


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