Ted needs Feds to funnel in funds for fast train and Fairfax

THE Palaszczuk Government has called on the Federal LNP to put its money where its mouth is following a meeting between state Transport Minister Mark Bailey and Federal LNP Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien today concerning a proposed high speed rail between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

Mr Bailey said while he welcomed the positive meeting and the briefing on the project by proponents from the consortium, the state government needed to see a funding commitment from Canberra.

“My concern is that yet again it’s all talk and no action from the Turnbull Government,” Mr Bailey said.

“They refused to contribute a single dollar to the overdue Cross River Rail to unblock South East Queensland’s rail system, and now they’re talking up about a mammoth infrastructure project without any promise of investing in it yet again.

“If Malcolm Turnbull is sincere about this, he’ll come to the table with a federal funding commitment instead of just words.”

Mr Bailey said the immediate priority for Sunshine Coast and hinterland residents was for the Turnbull Government to approve the Palaszczuk Government’s completed business case for the Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgrade that’s been with their Infrastructure Australia agency for more than six months.

“We then need Ted to get his feds to funnel in funds for the Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgrade for his Fairfax residents in the short term.”

“Let’s be clear – it is only the Labor party with a strong record that invests in the public transport infrastructure South East Queensland needs to support our growing population.”

“South East Queenslanders need that to be genuinely bi-partisan to get projects going and it’s time the LNP started supporting heavy rail projects with funding.”

ENDS

Media contact, Dominic Geiger, 0447355565