Statement from Mark Bailey, Minister for Transport and Main Roads

The Australian Government’s announcement today claiming a so-called ‘boost’ to roads in Queensland is misleading.

The decision to reduce Australian Government funding splits on regional roads from 80:20 to 50:50 has been estimated by TMR to cost Queenslanders between $600 million and $1 billion per annum.

This is on top of cuts made elsewhere in Queensland such as the decision to cease funding projects including the Mooloolah River interchange, the cap on funding on road corridors and changes to funding splits on existing projects.

Queenslanders will therefore still be significantly worse off.

Although Queensland has only the third largest population of any state, our vast state has the largest regional road network in the nation so the proposed change from 80/20 funding to 50/50 has the largest impact on regional Queenslanders than regions in any other jurisdiction. 

Queensland is the only state in Australia with more people living in regional areas than the capital and there is a disproportionate number of fatalities on our regional roads.

We will not be deterred from our campaign to maintain current funding arrangements of 80:20 from the Commonwealth as clearly Queensland should have a different regional roads funding formula to other states given our decentralisation and largest road network in the nation.

We have a forward infrastructure and roads program that is based on our booming statewide population and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032.

Our plan is critical to supporting the Games, growth and keeping Queenslanders safe.

ENDS

Media contact – Minister Bailey office – 0419 288 284