STOP THE DRIP FEED

Public pressure has forced the Federal Government to reveal exact details of the projects it intends to fund under its regional roads program, Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Paul Lucas said.

Mr Lucas has welcomed the Federal Government’s pledge to allocate $82.75 million to Queensland roads but was astonished by the Federal Government’s initial reluctance to come clean on the detail.

“The Federal Government has been shamed by public pressure, they’d been forced into a corner after announcing just two of the 24 projects.

“Queenslanders have every right to feel frustrated and disappointed by the Federal Government’s drip feed of road funding announcements, it has to stop.

“This is a cruel Federal Government playing politics with road funding, they should be upfront about what they’re going to spend and where.

“Queensland motorists should be asking, is this Federal Government serious about spending real money on roads or just interested in short term political advantage?”

Mr Lucas said the projects the Federal Government had belatedly announced are welcome and important to regional Queensland.

“$6.5 million for the Peak Down Highway near Mackay is one of the projects the Deputy Prime Minister has announced but they don’t deserve a pat on the back for it.

“This is money the local federal MP, De-Anne Kelly, couldn’t deliver earlier this year, the funding was knocked back by the Federal Government as early as March.

“$6.5 million remains on the table from the State Government but now after a public outcry the Federal Government’s been left red faced and is belatedly putting its hand in its pocket.

“Put simply this is a glaring demonstration of the failure of De-Anne Kelly’s advocacy for her electorate.

“The polls are going bad and yet again the Federal Government’s been caught out on its record of neglect when it comes to funding Queensland roads.

Mr Lucas said in the last four years the State Government has spent more than $30 million on improving safety on the Peak Downs Highway and has allocated $45 million over the next five years.

“The Federal Government takes far more in income tax from the booming Mackay region than the State receives in mining royalties.

“As a road of national export importance, Canberra has a clear responsibility to contribute to the Peak Downs Highway and its money which should have been delivered a long time ago.

Mr Lucas is now calling on the Federal Government to reveal in full Queensland’s share of road money under AusLink 2.

“The drip feed has to stop.

“Where is the money for important projects like Toowoomba’s second range crossing, the M1, the Gore Highway, Townsville Port Access Road, Brisbane City Council’s Northern Link and additional flood works on the Bruce Highway?

“I say to Queensland beware of Governments that are behind in the polls and all of a sudden discover that you are important.

“Queensland motorists have contributed more than $25 billion dollars in fuel tax to Canberra’s coffers over the past ten years, what the Federal Government has offered is just a drop in the bucket.

“I’m a little bit sick and tired of Federal Government lectures on road spending when Queensland invests double what New South Wales does per person and two and half times that of Victoria.

“Mr Vaile ought to wake up to the fact the Federal Government returns just 18 percent of its fuel taxes while Queensland spends 155 percent of what it collects in motor registration on roads.

“I’m very happy for Queensland’s record on road spending to be compared with the Federal Government’s any day,” Mr Lucas said.

Media Contact: Darren Roberts 0448 184566