The new billboard comes as uncertainty still lingers over the $1.5 billion handed to Victoria for the link, which is currently sitting idle in state coffers. The federal government's message to the Victorian government has been widely seen as confusing in recent days, after the Treasurer Joe Hockey on Wednesday said Victoria must hand back the $1.5 billion if it did not plan to build the road. The Prime Minister however told media on Saturday that the government would consider allowing the state government to use the funds for a "nationally significant road project". "We've got $3 billion that's available for the East West Link," Mr Abbott said. "Now if the Victorians come up with a decent proposal the $1.5 billion that we gave them for the East West Link could be used for that but it's got to be a nationally significant road project." The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure Warren Truss was in Melbourne on Friday to discuss the Western Distributor Project with the Victorian government.

But the federal government has not received a detailed outline of the project, Mr Abbott said. "There's been an abundance of contact between the Commonwealth and the Victorian government but all we've had in writing on the Western Project is a one-page letter from the Premier with about four paragraphs on this Western project," Mr Abbott said. He called the Andrews government plan "just a thought bubble at this stage". Despite suggesting some of the money allocated for the East West Link could be redirected to another project, the prime minister said there would always be funding available for the East West Link. "In the budget we recommitted to spend $3 billion on East West Link with the first government prepared to give it a go," he said.

The Prime Minister also hosed down speculation an early election might be called, after the latest poll indicated support for the Coalition government had significantly increased. Mr Abbott's visit to Melbourne on Saturday has exacerbated tensions between Victoria and Canberra, with Deputy Premier James Merlino accusing the Prime Minister of engaging in a "puerile stunt" instead of talking to the state government about its infrastructure needs. Premier Daniel Andrews has sought to meet Mr Abbott for the past two weeks, including in the aftermath of Tuesday's federal budget, but the Prime Minister is yet to make time.



"This is just idiotic and bizarre behaviour by a Prime Minister who is confused and can't keep his promises," Mr Merlino said. "Lies are not leadership. He promised he would not be ripping off Victorians - that is exactly what he's trying to do." "We've got 25 per cent of the nation's population, yet only 12 per cent of the infrastructure investment from the federal government. Victorians want the prime minister to stop these silly games. Get on with the infrastructure programs Victorians voted for in November." Mr Merlino again called on the federal government to invest in the Western Distributor, a Transurban-led proposal designed to ease the pressure off the West Gate Bridge by providing an alternative river crossing into the city. He also remained adamant that despite the Commonwealth's requests, "we will not be returning any infrastructure funding to Canberra."

However, the Deputy Premier refused to say whether the state government would be willing to match any future Commonwealth commitment for the Western Distributor Project. The business case and full details of the project also won't be available for a few months, he said.

