Gillard snubs Queensland again

Community Recovery and Resilience Minister David Crisafulli is challenging the Prime Minister to join him on a driving tour of the Bruce Highway.

Mr Crisafulli said Julia Gillard had chosen to buy votes in marginal Sydney seats for the second time in a week instead of supporting Queenslanders.

“Last week Julia Gillard pledged millions to protect western Sydney residents from flooding while parts of Queensland were still mopping up, and today she’s offering a billion dollar bribe to save motorists a few minutes travel time,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“I call on the Prime Minister to join me on a tour of the Bruce Highway to experience first-hand the appalling condition of Queensland’s most important road.

“This is a matter of life and death for thousands of motorists who rely on the highway every day.

“How many more families have to lose loved ones before the Federal Government finally realises it’s time to step up and fix the Bruce once and for all?

“We are prepared to pour $1 billion into the Bruce and are once again appealing to the Federal Government to help as part of our Bruce Highway Action Plan.”

Mr Crisafulli said Queenslanders had every right to feel short-changed.

“People in regional Queensland don’t ask for much but they do expect to be treated fairly,” he said.

“The Bruce Highway is not a national highway, it’s a national disgrace and it’s time the Prime Minister stopped the pork-barrelling and started governing.”

[ENDS] 4 March 2013

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                          Andrew Longmire 0418 216 627