Labor fails Queensland on infrastructure
16th January, 2015
Labor’s complete disinterest in Queensland’s transport infrastructure has been slammed by Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss.
Mr Truss said Labor’s failure to deliver for Queensland contrasts with the Federal Coalition’s record investment of $13.4 billion in the state’s infrastructure.
“With the Queensland election now just two weeks away, State Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk has not even mentioned infrastructure. She has failed to match or support any of the big road and rail infrastructure commitments made by the LNP, giving rise to real concerns that she will behave like Labor in Victoria and walk away from infrastructure investment,” Mr Truss said.
“Not only will Labor’s disinterest in infrastructure cost thousands of Queensland jobs, it means billions of dollars’ worth of vital road and rail projects will not be built.”
Mr Truss said yesterday’s intemperate outburst by Shadow Federal Minister Anthony Albanese made it clear that under a Labor Government whether it be at the state or federal level the current five-year Commonwealth/State road funding agreement was at serious risk.
“We have cancelled no Queensland rail or public transport projects, as claimed by Mr Albanese yesterday. All contracts are being honoured and projects completed, and we are partnering with Queensland to deliver a record $8.5 billion investment in the Bruce Highway, one of the state’s key arteries,” he said.
“We are also getting stuck into fixing the Warrego Highway, building the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing and upgrading hundreds of regional roads.
“Labor has shown zero interest in matching our commitments. The biggest losers from Labor’s lacklustre approach will be Queensland’s motorists and businesses, who will suffer when Labor axes big-ticket infrastructure projects as we’ve seen happen in Victoria.
“So while the Shadow Federal Minister bleats about his unfunded and uncommitted pipedreams evaporating, we will keep getting on with the job of fixing key urban, regional and local roads and rail lines.”
Projects identified as being at risk under Labor include:
• Bruce Highway: 45 new projects or programmes of works on the Bruce Highway, plus funding to complete 16 ongoing projects through the 10 year Fix the Bruce Highway plan to improve the safety and reliability of the Highway for all users - Federal contribution: $6.7 billion
• Gateway Motorway North: Realignment, widening and upgrade of 11.3 kilometres of the Gateway Motorway in Brisbane between Nudgee and Bracken Ridge to improve safety and ease congestion - Federal contribution: $929.6 million
• Toowoomba Second Range Crossing: Construction of a bypass to the north of Toowoomba, running from the Warrego Highway at Helidon in the east, to the Gore Highway at Athol in the west - Federal contribution of up to $1.285 billion
• Warrego Highway: works on the Warrego Highway, delivering pavement widening and lane duplication, additional overtaking lanes and intersection safety upgrades - Federal contribution: $508 million
“It is very telling that Ms Palaszczuk refuses to support any of these exciting infrastructure projects being delivered in Queensland by the Federal and State LNP Governments,” Mr Truss said.
“For the sake of Queensland’s motorists and industries, she must break her deathly silence on infrastructure and tell us what her plan is for the future of the state’s roads and rail lines.”
