LNP would rather dud Queensland than get a fair rail line deal from Canberra

Only the Labor Party will hold Canberra to account to properly fund the Sunshine Coast rail line duplication, Transport Minister Mark Bailey said today.

Mr Bailey said the Palaszczuk Government had led the way on improving the rail line between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

“It was Labor who invested in the business case for the Beerburrum to Nambour duplication and provided it to the Federal Government last July for funding after three years of dithering by the Queensland LNP,” Mr Bailey said.

“This is a project of national significance so we need to see a serious commitment from the Federal Government.

“The Palaszczuk Government will always fight for Queensland’s fair share of funding from Canberra and the LNP should do the same.

“The Turnbull Government has committed $5 billion for a rail line in Victoria, but hasn’t committed a single cent to rail on the Sunshine Coast."

Mr Bailey said Ms Frecklington’s Sunshine Coast rail duplication pledge was pointless unless extra Sunshine Coast trains had somewhere to go.

“There is no point in putting more trains on the Sunshine Coast line if they can’t get into Brisbane," he said.

“That’s why building capacity through Cross River Rail is fundamental. There is a bottle-neck and Cross River Rail fixes it.

“Deb Frecklington’s plan would result in commuters getting to Beerburrum then being caught in a bottle neck because there is no capacity further down the line.

“The only record the LNP have on the Sunshine Coast is promising the duplication in 2015 when Deb Frecklington was Campbell Newman’s Assistant Treasurer.

“And that was contingent on selling assets.”

ENDS

Media contact: Brock Taylor, 0427018178