Queensland Labor fails Bruce highway

The Queensland Labor Party has today failed Queenslanders confirming their lack of commitment to the Bruce Highway.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said during the Budget Estimates hearing Labor Opposition Treasurer Curtis Pitt failed to acknowledge the Bruce Highway as a priority

“Today Mr Pitt reinforced his position that any spending on the Bruce Highway is ‘mis-spending’,” Mr Emerson said.

“The Bruce Highway is a 1700km lifeline for Queensland and it is disappointing Mr Pitt continues to deny it is a priority.

“This LNP government completely rejects the Labor Opposition’s policy that no money should be spent on the Bruce Highway.

According to an article by the Cairns Post dated April 20 2012 it states “Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt said the new LNP Government was mis-spending $1 billion of state money because the Bruce Highway is a federally funded road.”

Mr Emerson said unlike the Queensland Labor Party, the Newman Government recognises more needs to be done to properly fund this national road.

“We will continue to lobby through the Federal election campaign both the Coalition and Labor to properly fund this national road,” he said.

“If the Bruce Highway doesn’t receive proper investment, RACQ predicts we will see up to 400 people die on this national road over the next decade.

“Unlike Mr Pitt I am committed to investing in the Bruce Highway and bringing it up to a satisfactory standard.”

[ENDS] 25 July 2013                                   

Media contact:           Stephanie Shield 0418 186 625