Published Thursday, 28 August, 2008 at 04:58 PM
Minister for Public Works, Housing and Information and Communication Technology
The Honourable Robert Schwarten
BLIGH GOVERNMENT INVESTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE
The Bligh Government is forecast to spend three times the amount per capita on capital works in Queensland this financial year than the Borbidge Coalition Government spent in its final year in office, Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten told State Parliament today.
Mr Schwarten, responding to a question in Parliament this morning, said that in 2008-09 Bligh Government was forecast to spend $3,856 per capita on building and maintaining infrastructure to keep the state growing.
“In 1997-98, the Borbidge Government spent only $1,100 per capita,” Mr Schwarten said.
“We are spending a record $17 billion on infrastructure this financial year on roads and dams, schools and housing, health and drought-proofing projects – up $3 billion or 26% on last year – while in 1997-98 the Borbidge Government spent only $3.79b.”
Mr Schwarten said the Department of Public Works was currently managing $8.5 billion worth of projects on behalf of the State Government and client agencies, including $3.6 billion worth of health projects.
“Public Works is project managing health projects including the new $1.1 billion Gold Coast Hospital, $446 million Cairns Hospital, $405 million Mackay Hospital, $74 million Rockhampton Hospital redevelopment and the $21 million Yeppoon Hospital,” he said.
“Other major projects on our books include the $600 million Supreme and District Courts Building, the $82 million State Tennis Centre, the $63.3 million Tank Street Bridge and the $45.5 Boggo Road Urban Village.
“The Bligh Government recognizes that in order to keep Queensland growing, investment in building and rebuilding infrastructure is vital.
“Look at the track record of the Liberals and Nationals … when they were slash in government they froze spending on health infrastructure and moved funding between projects, usually to ones in their own electorate.
“The Rockhampton Hospital is a perfect example. Mike Horan, when Health Minister, took money away from Rockhampton Hospital and put it into the Toowoomba Hospital.
“Mike Horan still sits on the Liberal National Party frontbench and would be a Minister at the Cabinet table again if his party was elected.
“Queenslanders deserve a government that won’t take a hap-hazard approach to building infrastructure and they already have that in the Bligh Government .”
Media contact: Scott Chandler on (07) 3237 1832 or 0488 096 204
Mr Schwarten, responding to a question in Parliament this morning, said that in 2008-09 Bligh Government was forecast to spend $3,856 per capita on building and maintaining infrastructure to keep the state growing.
“In 1997-98, the Borbidge Government spent only $1,100 per capita,” Mr Schwarten said.
“We are spending a record $17 billion on infrastructure this financial year on roads and dams, schools and housing, health and drought-proofing projects – up $3 billion or 26% on last year – while in 1997-98 the Borbidge Government spent only $3.79b.”
Mr Schwarten said the Department of Public Works was currently managing $8.5 billion worth of projects on behalf of the State Government and client agencies, including $3.6 billion worth of health projects.
“Public Works is project managing health projects including the new $1.1 billion Gold Coast Hospital, $446 million Cairns Hospital, $405 million Mackay Hospital, $74 million Rockhampton Hospital redevelopment and the $21 million Yeppoon Hospital,” he said.
“Other major projects on our books include the $600 million Supreme and District Courts Building, the $82 million State Tennis Centre, the $63.3 million Tank Street Bridge and the $45.5 Boggo Road Urban Village.
“The Bligh Government recognizes that in order to keep Queensland growing, investment in building and rebuilding infrastructure is vital.
“Look at the track record of the Liberals and Nationals … when they were slash in government they froze spending on health infrastructure and moved funding between projects, usually to ones in their own electorate.
“The Rockhampton Hospital is a perfect example. Mike Horan, when Health Minister, took money away from Rockhampton Hospital and put it into the Toowoomba Hospital.
“Mike Horan still sits on the Liberal National Party frontbench and would be a Minister at the Cabinet table again if his party was elected.
“Queenslanders deserve a government that won’t take a hap-hazard approach to building infrastructure and they already have that in the Bligh Government .”
Media contact: Scott Chandler on (07) 3237 1832 or 0488 096 204