Rudd backs away from Cross River Rail

Kevin Rudd has backed away from his promise to negotiate a deal on Cross River Rail.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said the Federal Labor Government had refused to budge on their current position that leaves Queensland paying for three-quarters of the project.

“On June 28, shortly after being put back as Prime Minister, Mr Rudd said he wanted to negotiate on Cross River Rail,” Mr Emerson said.

“Clearly this message didn’t get through to his own party who have since written to me refusing to move their position.

“Any hope I had of coming to a genuine 50-50 deal with Federal Labor is fading fast because of this deceit.”

Under the current offer, the Federal Government will take half their contribution from GST funding reserved for the states.

“By reducing GST payments Mr Rudd wants Queenslanders to pay $1 billion more for this project.

“Like his former mate Wayne Swan, Kevin Rudd wants to give funding with one hand then take with the other.

“The Queensland Government has made a genuine attempt to get a deal done.”

State Labor, under former Transport Minister and current Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk, wrote to Infrastructure Australia in December 2011, asking for them to pay 75 per cent of the cost to build Cross River Rail.

[ENDS] 6 August 2013

Media contact: Andrew Berkman 0429 128 637