Figures Reveal Canberra’s Gold Coast Fuel Tax Rort

Gold Coast motorists are getting less than $10 back in Federal road funding for every $100 they send to Canberra in fuel tax new figures have revealed.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas said the figures showed the Gold Coast was at the bottom of the Howard Government’s priority list when it came to road funding in Queensland.

“Gold Coast motorists are paying almost $1 million a day to Canberra in fuel tax but they’re getting next to nothing back for their roads,” Mr Lucas said.

“It’s a Howard Government rip off – pure and simple.

“Gold Coast Liberals like Member for Moncrief Steven Ciobo should hang their head in shame for their inability to deliver for local motorists.

“Gold Coast motorists have funnelled more than $3 billion into Canberra’s fuel tax coffers since the Howard Government came to power. But Canberra’s road funding just isn’t keeping up.

“Between July 2001 and June 2008, the Federal Government will spend $210 million on road projects on the Gold Coast. Canberra’s also providing $23 million directly to Gold Coast City Council for roads between 2004-05 and 2008-09

“That $210 million might seem like a lot until you realise $120 million is for the Tugun Bypass and $86 million was paid in instalments by Canberra as part of their contribution to work on the first Pacific Motorway upgrade. That leaves just $4 million from the Federal Government for other major projects on the Gold Coast over 7 years.

“The State Government has allocated $545 million for works on Gold Coast roads this financial year alone.

“And while the Federal Government is spending $210 million over 7 years, the State Government is spending $1.5 billion.”

Mr Lucas said much more of the billions of dollars Queenslanders paid to Canberra in fuel tax every year should be returned to roads around the state.

“While more should be done in Brisbane, more in Ipswich and more in north Queensland – at least some funding is finding its way there. But the Gold Coast is stone, motherless last when it comes to road funding commitments from Canberra.”

Mr Lucas said Liberal member for Moncrief Steven Ciobo was clearly unable to convince Canberra to spend more on Gold Coast roads.

“Since Mr Ciobo was elected in 2001, Gold Coast residents have pumped billions of dollars into Canberra’s coffers through taxes when they fill up at the pump.”

“But Mr Ciobo has delivered next to nothing for the Gold Coast in return.”

“The Federal Government has made no commitment to fund a major Gold Coast road project since they announced partial funding for the Tugun Bypass in 2003. That’s more than four years of nothing for Gold Coast roads from Canberra.”

Mr Lucas said the State Government had put a proposal for a joint upgrade to the Federal Government in 2004 but had been knocked back again and again and again.

“We’ve got a plan to upgrade the M1 through Logan and from Nerang to Tugun. And unlike roads like the Ipswich Motorway and the Bruce Highway, which are national highway and 100% federally funded, this road is a joint responsibility.”

“We’ve done much of the planning and design work and we’ve put $392 million on the table to get work started on this $1.5 billion project but Canberra refuses to match our funding. It’s just not good enough that Canberra won’t match Queensland’s ‘fair share’ pledge.

“Mr Ciobo is a tired member of a tired government and he’s being outshone by Liberal colleagues in Queensland and NSW.

“Why is the Federal Government committing $160 million a year for 10 years for work on the Pacific Highway in NSW when they won’t commit funding for the Gold Coast? It’s the same traffic using the same road but NSW is getting $1.6 billion from Canberra while the Gold Coast misses out entirely.

“Either Mr Ciobo isn’t prepared to knock on the Prime Minister’s door and make the case for more Federal road funding for the Gold Coast, or Mr Howard isn’t listening.

“Either way it’s a sad indictment on Mr Ciobo’s ability to deliver for the Gold Coast.”

Mr Lucas said Mr Ciobo’s claims Queensland should use funds from the GST were wearing thin given confirmation last week from Macquarie Bank experts that the level of net funding from Canberra to the states had plunged to a 30 year low.

Media inquiries: Robert Hoge 3237 1942