Budget update

22 May 2026

Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King is changing the game for walking and cycling and has ‘front-loaded’ the $500m program to maximise its impact in the first three years.

It seems clear that the Minister is determined to have a significant impact quickly with the Active Transport Fund, which follows last year’s runaway success of the previous $100 million fund.

$90.2 million has been allocated for 2026-27, $75.3 million has been allocated for 2027-28 and $68.8 million the year after. Individual state and territory allocations follow accepted COAG funding conventions with the larger states receiving larger shares of the funding.

We Ride Australia strongly supports this surge in the amounts available in the initial years of the Fund – demand is incredibly strong across the country as Councils activate their local communities with more options for people who want to walk and ride!

Funding will decrease in Year 5 and result in $40 million per annum being available in later years of the decade long commitment.

The detail:

Source: Budget Paper No.3 Infrastructure Part 2 – Payments for Specific Purposes

This is a significant turn-around after the last 16 years during which there were zero dollars allocated to active transport in any federal Budget.

In just the last 2 years, the Australian Government has announced investment of $600 million into making the choice to walk and ride for local trips easier, safer and more convenient.

The new funding ensures those opportunities will continue to be provided to Councils and governments around the country who want to create bikeways and shared paths for their residents and children.

Major Active Transport Infrastructure event in Parliament

WeRide is delivering a major active transport infrastructure event in Parliament on 18 August which now assumes an even more important role following the Budget announcement.

Our expert Key Note speakers will provide important information directly to Members and Senators on the economic and social contribution of walking and cycling infrastructure for all Australian communities.

Mayor of the Sunshine Coast, Rosanna Natoli, and Chief Executive of Infrastructure Victoria, Dr Jonathan Spear, will speak at the event hosted by the Parliamentary Friends of Cycling group. Both of our speakers play key roles in the decisions that are made to facilitate walking and cycling across their communities.

Chaired by Zaneta Mascarenhas MP, Hon. Andrew Wallace MP and Dr Helen Haines MP, a formal invitation will be extended to Minister Catherine King to open the event and speak to the success and motivation in getting this Active Transport Fund into the Budget in a very challenging economic climate.

Not only will invitations be extended by the Chairs to every Member of Parliament and Senator in Parliament, but WeRide’s will invite its allies from a very broad national network of peak bodies, collaborators, cycling organisations and WeRide members.

Above: the Parliamentary Friends of Cycling group welcomed their colleagues and guests to an event in 2024 showcasing the latest machines that give back mobility to those living with a disability. This is just one example of the importance of WeRide’s presence in Parliament and the Friends of Cycling group it established and organises.