Minister for Main Roads Mark Bailey says Queensland deserves its fair share of roads funding in tonight's Federal Budget, PLUS the funding the Turnbull Government ripped us off of six months ago.
Mr Bailey said it was time for Malcolm Turnbull to prove his mettle to Queensland voters who are sick and tired of playing second fiddle to other states when it comes to infrastructure spending.
“Six months ago, the Turnbull Government ripped-off Queensland by around $150 million in promised roads funding under the Northern Australia Roads Programme (NARP).
“The Federal government originally allocated $375 million in NARP funding for Queensland in their last budget, but they went back on their word giving us just $223.8 million.
“The Palaszczuk Government put forward 26 projects and had our 20 per cent funding on the table for all of them, but the Federal government only committed to ten projects.
“This means projects like installing overtaking lanes or improving heavy vehicle safety on the Flinders Highway between Townsville and Charters Towers missed out.
“It’s disappointing to say the least that Queensland’s fair funding share was siphoned and spent interstate. So I’m hopeful that this funding will be put back in tonight's Budget.”
List of unfunded Queensland NARP projects:
Minister Bailey said he’s not convinced the Turnbull Government has Queensland top of mind, citing the leaked parts of its infrastructure plan this week as proof.
“Apparently tough new tests are going to be imposed on the states as part of its infrastructure plan, but what will this do apart from increasing red tape, paperwork and causing project delays?” Mr Bailey said.
“I’m also concerned about their conditional user-pays plan to toll all new motorways labelling it as the “fairest way”. This wouldn’t be fair on taxpayers if there isn’t an alternative route, so I think this blanket approach is flawed.
“It’s getting a little tiresome to continually have to fight for Queensland’s fair share of roads funding from the Turnbull Government, the M1 and the Ipswich Motorway are clear cases of this.
“Queensland is a vast decentralised state with some 186,000 kilometres of public roads including 33,343 km of state-controlled roads, which is more than any other state or territory.
“Of course more funding should be spent on Queensland’s roads infrastructure than of the other States/Territories.
“Our roads network is a vital link across Queensland and serves a diverse economy from mining, agriculture, tourism and service industries.
“We’re also subject to extreme climate conditions more than others that impact our roads network like cyclones and flooding.”
Minister Bailey said he would continue to put Queensland’s interests first and fight for our fair share of funding.
ENDS