Highway robbery - the North ripped off again

The long suffering motorists of the North and Far North have again been sold out by the Federal Government on funding for the Bruce Highway, Acting Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Desley Boyle, said today.

“This is nothing short of blatant highway robbery, even Ned Kelly would be proud of the efforts of Federal Member for Herbert, Peter Lindsay.

“Time and time again Mr Lindsay has assured the people of the North he had secured the $40 million needed to upgrade the Bruce Highway between Woodlands Shopping Centre to Veales Road – but we’ve been conned.

“He’s got the money alright, but he’s plundered it from the $220 million pot of gold set aside for Bruce Highway flood works between Townsville and Cairns in the wake of extensive cyclone related road closures.

“Mr Lindsay’s $40 million raid throws into grave doubt several flood immunity projects on the Bruce Highway including Seymour River, Arnot Creek and the Gairloch floodway near Ingham, as well the Mulgrave River Bridge south of Cairns.”

Ms Boyle said the joint federal-state committee tasked with making funding recommendations to the respective roads ministers had agreed flood works would be given priority under the $220 million Accelerated Bruce Highway package.

On that understanding, in January, the State Government sought separate federal funding of $40 million for the construction of the Mt Low project but didn’t receive a response.

“It seems all along the Federal Government has been running its own secret agenda.

“North Queensland motorists pay more than $163 million in fuel tax to Canberra every single year, its high time we go a return on our investment.”

Minister for Natural Resources, the Minister assisting the Premier in North Queensland, and Member for Thuringowa, Craig Wallace, said the North had been duped.

“Here we are in a federal election year with Peter Lindsay prepared to do anything to save his political hide, he’s attempting to cover up the fact Canberra has been AWOL for too long on fixing the Bruce Highway in the North.

“The $40 million for Woodlands to Veales Road is welcome, it needs to be done, but it shouldn’t be funded at the expense of vital flood works between Townsville and Cairns.

“We’ve always said the $220 million won’t solve all of the flood problems on the Bruce Highway but now it will fix even less, especially with Mr Lindsay proposing works north of Ingham be staged.

“North Queenslanders will continue to endure cuts to the national highway during adverse weather conditions for sometime to come thanks to Peter Lindsay’s creative accounting.

“What’s even more galling is the money the Federal Government’s planning to squander on the Goodna Bypass near Brisbane which will cost $1.2 billion more than widening the existing Ipswich Motorway.

“That’s a billion plus dollars that could be spent on bringing the Bruce Highway up to an acceptable national highway standard.

“Motorists of the North and Far North have every right to be outraged, they have every right to be furious with Peter Lindsay for selling them short,” Mr Wallace said.

Media Contact: Darren Roberts 3237 1947