WE WILL NOT HAND OVER OUR PORTS: PREMIER
Published Saturday, 18 August, 2007 at 03:48 PM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Premier Peter Beattie today said Queensland will not hand over its ports to the Commonwealth.
“The Howard Government’s trickery continues and Australians are not being fooled,” Mr Beattie said.
“This latest ploy by the Howard Government to try and scrape over the election line would be disastrous for ports around the country and for Queensland exports.”
Mr Beattie’s comments follow reports today that the Commonwealth was getting ready to seize control of ports along the eastern seaboard.
“Australians just need to look at the federal track record to be very concerned,” he said.
“There was the Seasprite helicopters which were over budget and behind schedule and then the FFG frigate upgrade. In fact, the 7.30 Report even back in 2002 found 16 major defence contracts were over cost, delayed or, most often, both.
“Right now the Howard Government is under funding our universities and the debt levels for our university students are, quite frankly, an international embarrassment.
“You wouldn’t put this federal government in charge of running a chook raffle.”
Mr Beattie said the Queensland Government was investing more than $2.9 billion in ports and coal rail infrastructure, while the private sector was investing a further $1.5 billion.
“The only people not spending money on coal infrastructure in Queensland are John Howard and Peter Costello,” said Premier Beattie.
“If Mr Howard is ready to start investing money in infrastructure there are plenty of projects we’d be happy to see him put money into.”
For more than two years Queensland has been asking for $750 million from Canberra for a 50/50 split with the State on a $1.5 billion upgrade of the Pacific Motorway but Canberra has refused.
“Main roads has done the planning work and bulldozers are ready to roll as soon as John Howard hands over a cheque.
“Or if he wants to put in billions of dollars we wouldn’t have to stop work on the $1.9 billion Gateway Upgrade at Nudgee, we could improve the highway further north and further south.
“And in north Queensland, Mr Howard should pay attention to the mayors between Sarina and Cairns who are lobbying the federal government for a $2 billion investment in work on the Bruce Highway – a federal government road.”
Media Contact: Premier's Office - 07 3224 4500
“The Howard Government’s trickery continues and Australians are not being fooled,” Mr Beattie said.
“This latest ploy by the Howard Government to try and scrape over the election line would be disastrous for ports around the country and for Queensland exports.”
Mr Beattie’s comments follow reports today that the Commonwealth was getting ready to seize control of ports along the eastern seaboard.
“Australians just need to look at the federal track record to be very concerned,” he said.
“There was the Seasprite helicopters which were over budget and behind schedule and then the FFG frigate upgrade. In fact, the 7.30 Report even back in 2002 found 16 major defence contracts were over cost, delayed or, most often, both.
“Right now the Howard Government is under funding our universities and the debt levels for our university students are, quite frankly, an international embarrassment.
“You wouldn’t put this federal government in charge of running a chook raffle.”
Mr Beattie said the Queensland Government was investing more than $2.9 billion in ports and coal rail infrastructure, while the private sector was investing a further $1.5 billion.
“The only people not spending money on coal infrastructure in Queensland are John Howard and Peter Costello,” said Premier Beattie.
“If Mr Howard is ready to start investing money in infrastructure there are plenty of projects we’d be happy to see him put money into.”
For more than two years Queensland has been asking for $750 million from Canberra for a 50/50 split with the State on a $1.5 billion upgrade of the Pacific Motorway but Canberra has refused.
“Main roads has done the planning work and bulldozers are ready to roll as soon as John Howard hands over a cheque.
“Or if he wants to put in billions of dollars we wouldn’t have to stop work on the $1.9 billion Gateway Upgrade at Nudgee, we could improve the highway further north and further south.
“And in north Queensland, Mr Howard should pay attention to the mayors between Sarina and Cairns who are lobbying the federal government for a $2 billion investment in work on the Bruce Highway – a federal government road.”
Media Contact: Premier's Office - 07 3224 4500