Published Tuesday, 02 September, 2008 at 01:45 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Minister hits back at false claims on Cooroy-Curra funding
Federal Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss continues to peddle a $500 million falsehood with his claim that funds have been cut from the Cooroy-Curra Bruce Highway upgrade, Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said today.
Mr Pitt said Mr Truss’s claims that the Federal Government had cut funding for the upgrade project showed a reckless disregard for the truth.
“This claim by Mr Truss that the Australian Government has cut funding by $500 million is completely untrue,” Mr Pitt said.
"It’s impossible for the money to have been cut, because it was never allocated in the first place.
“No one is going to believe that the former Federal coalition’s Monopoly Money pledge of $700 million during last year’s election campaign represented a formal funding allocation.
“That $700 million was as hollow and rubbery an election promise as could be imagined. It was nothing more than a blind grab for votes at a time when the federal coalition was desperate to shore up its declining election prospects.
“The coalition went on what can only be described as a binge of spending promises. Its various promises added up to $3 billion more than had been allocated in its forward spending program.
“The chances of this $3 billion worth of commitments ever being delivered were zero, including the $700 million ‘funny money’ promise for the Cooroy-Curra project. “
Mr Pitt said Main Roads was working hard to ensure the foundations were in place to enable the construction of the upgrade to get underway as soon as possible.
“The department recently completed a joint state and federal strategic planning study, which identified the corridor for the eventual upgrade,” he said.
"The final report from the study is with the Australian Government for consideration.
“In the meantime, detailed planning has started and in the next few months preparatory design work will begin in order to clarify the project's scope.
"The Federal Government has committed an initial $200 million to what will be a multi-billion-dollar project.”
Mr Pitt said he would discuss both funding and timeframe considerations with the federal infrastructure minister, Anthony Albanese.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
Mr Pitt said Mr Truss’s claims that the Federal Government had cut funding for the upgrade project showed a reckless disregard for the truth.
“This claim by Mr Truss that the Australian Government has cut funding by $500 million is completely untrue,” Mr Pitt said.
"It’s impossible for the money to have been cut, because it was never allocated in the first place.
“No one is going to believe that the former Federal coalition’s Monopoly Money pledge of $700 million during last year’s election campaign represented a formal funding allocation.
“That $700 million was as hollow and rubbery an election promise as could be imagined. It was nothing more than a blind grab for votes at a time when the federal coalition was desperate to shore up its declining election prospects.
“The coalition went on what can only be described as a binge of spending promises. Its various promises added up to $3 billion more than had been allocated in its forward spending program.
“The chances of this $3 billion worth of commitments ever being delivered were zero, including the $700 million ‘funny money’ promise for the Cooroy-Curra project. “
Mr Pitt said Main Roads was working hard to ensure the foundations were in place to enable the construction of the upgrade to get underway as soon as possible.
“The department recently completed a joint state and federal strategic planning study, which identified the corridor for the eventual upgrade,” he said.
"The final report from the study is with the Australian Government for consideration.
“In the meantime, detailed planning has started and in the next few months preparatory design work will begin in order to clarify the project's scope.
"The Federal Government has committed an initial $200 million to what will be a multi-billion-dollar project.”
Mr Pitt said he would discuss both funding and timeframe considerations with the federal infrastructure minister, Anthony Albanese.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819