Turnbull Government lets Queensland down on M1 funding

The Turnbull Government has ignored Queensland’s appeal for its fair share of funding to upgrade the M1 but has agreed to leave the door open to further discussions.

The impasse came to head today when the Federal Government finally met with the M1 delegation including Minister for Main Roads Mark Bailey, RACQ, CCIQ and Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.

The Logan Mayor and the Queensland Trucking Association, also part of the delegation, sent letters in their absence.

Minister Bailey said he was disappointed the Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure didn’t agree with the delegation’s concerns and wouldn’t commit to the appropriate 80:20 funding split, sticking with the 50:50 offer.

“Minister Fletcher could not explain why Queensland was getting short-changed when the same road just across the border in New South Wales gets an 80:20 funding split.

“The M1 is a highway of national significance and is the highest trafficked road in Queensland with more than 147,000 vehicles battling congestion on it each day.

“The M1 is part of the Federal Government's National Land Transport Network which attracts an 80:20 federal/state funding split as explicitly outlined less than two years ago by Deputy Prime Minister Truss but Minister Fletcher refused to accept this fact.”

Minister Bailey said this was not the end of Queensland’s fight for our fair share.

“Our resolve has only just begun, we’re more determined than ever to make sure the Federal Government gives Queensland what we deserve.

“I’m also appealing to anyone who has ever been stuck in traffic on the M1 to take this up with their Federal LNP MPs urging the Federal Government to give Queensland the appropriate 80:20 split.

“This is the same funding deal that the same road gets just across the border in New South Wales.

“What we did agree on was an interim way forward – to undertake processes to reduce the cost of the projects and to reconvene with the Taskforce when the revised costings are known.”

ENDS

Media contact: Zoe Russell – 0428 079 640