Truss blockades Greens plan to derail Bruce Highway funding
25th June, 2013
Federal Member for Wide Bay and Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Warren Truss, last night spoke in the Australian Parliament against a Greens Bill which would have prevented the Commonwealth Government from funding any road construction projects in Australia. Mr Truss described the bill as “crazy” — “even by Greens standards.”
“The Greens legislation was designed to stop road construction until every rail project approved by Infrastructure Australia was funded first,” Mr Truss said.
“Projects such as the Brisbane cross river rail terminal, and the Melbourne metro, would have to be completed before any Commonwealth money could be spent on roads.
“As other rail projects are devised they would all be given priority over any spending on roads.
“The Greens proposal, contained in its Infrastructure (Priority Funding) Amendment Bill, would derail any upgrade of the Cooroy to Curra section of the Bruce Highway, or Commonwealth funded work on local roads.
“There would be no extension of the four lane section of Highway from Cooroy through to Curra, the Gympie bypass would be shelved indefinitely, no more overtaking lanes would be constructed, and other essential road projects would be scrapped.”
Mr Truss said investment in rail to meet the increasing freight task is extremely important and can take pressure off the road system, but it should not come at the expense of Highway funding.
“The Bruce Highway is our State’s main arterial, connecting north and south Queensland and communities in between.
“Traffic volumes on the Highway are increasing — not decreasing, and funding needs to be prioritised to ensure the Highway is as safe and as efficient as possible.
“The remaining sections of the Cooroy to Curra four lane upgrade need to be progressed urgently — but The Greens want the Highway to be left as is, with no funding allocated to fix flood spots and upgrade its capacity,” Mr Truss said.
“Planning and building a better, safer and more efficient Highway that can service higher traffic loads is a priority for the Liberal and National Parties — but clearly not The Greens.
“If The Greens Bill passes the Parliament there will be no Federal finding available for roads in Australia for decades.”
