Tracklaying on the transport link, which will incorporate 106.8 kilometres of rail line and 76,285 sleepers, began north of a new metro bridge over what will be the M12 motorway and is proceeding towards the line’s terminus at St Marys.

Sources have told The Australian and The Austr that the airline, owned by US financier Bain Capital, and its executives have been meeting with potential investors, while the group has also been restructured in new filings as a public company.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said a Coalition government would take $2.2 billion pledged to the SRL, which he labelled a “cruel hoax” that will “never be delivered”, as well as $2 billion for upgrades to Sunshine Station, and tip $1.5 billion into the long-delayed airport rail.

In this iteration of Operation Solania, the ADF deployed a Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan from No. 35 Squadron and supporting personnel to Kwajalein to support the maritime surveillance of the Marshall Islands' exclusive economic zone.