10 year action plan to fix the Bruce Highway already exists

The Bruce Highway continues to be a key priority under the Palaszczuk Government and a 10 year $8.5 billion joint Federal/State commitment to improve safety, flood immunity and capacity is continuing.

Minister for Main Roads Mark Bailey said the LNP is spruiking a ‘new’ 10 year Bruce Highway action plan election commitment while in Bundaberg this weekend, but there is already a fully funded 10 year road funding program in place between Federal and State governments, and supported by both sides of politics. 

“That program is being rolled out successfully saving lives all the way up the Queensland coast.  Mr Nicholls is just re-announcing an already existing policy, trying to rebrand something that is already announced, funded and being built,” he said. 

“If Mr Nicholls is adding another 10 years to that program then he needs to put up the cash and be up front as to how they’ll fund it and whether he’ll sell off our assets to pay for it.”

Mr Bailey said the LNP support for a new coal-fired power station was also support for higher electricity prices and was out of step with economic reality.

“A new coal-fired power station is not the answer to reducing electricity prices,” he said.

“Peak business body the Australian Industry Group has said a new coal power station construction could double electricity prices for consumers which would be a disaster for jobs and for our economy.

“Investors and the energy industry won’t fund a new coal-fired power station because they know that their lengthy pay back periods mean huge amounts of money will be lost because of the rapidly falling cost of renewable energy.

“Tim Nicholls was Treasurer of this State when electricity prices surged 43 per cent in the term of the former LNP government, so to support a plan that will double electricity prices, is absurd.

“Mr Nicholls is talking up support for an economically viable coal-fired power station because he knows full well that industry has resoundingly said it doesn’t stack up, this plan is all smoke and mirrors.”

Mr Bailey said Queensland’s ample existing traditional baseload fleet of efficient generators would continue to be an important part of Queensland's energy mix for years to come but that we have to plan for renewable energy in the mix.

“The Expert Panel draft report found that our 50% to 2030 Renewable Energy Target was achievable and would have a cost neutral impact on electricity consumers,” he said.

“Tim Nicholls is just kowtowing to his Canberra mates who have no leadership on credible energy policy, blindly following their anti-renewables agenda and their back to the future plans that industry won’t support.

“It’s the Palaszczuk Government that has kick started a renewable energy boom in Queensland with more than 1GW of privately funded renewable energy projects currently in the works delivering more than $2 billion of new investment to Queensland and more than 1900 direct jobs, mostly in our regions."

Canadian Solar’s General Manager Daniel Ruoss said:  “We’ve chosen Queensland for our investment because of its world-class resources, great infrastructure and a forward looking Government. Queensland is truly the Sunshine State.”

“Queensland is committed to a real clean energy future unlike the anti-renewables LNP who oversaw the loss of 1300 renewable industry jobs while they were in government," Mr Bailey said.

“The Palaszczuk Government will continue to act on climate change by transitioning to a clean energy future gradually and sustainably."

ENDS

Media contact: Zoe Russell - 0428 079 640