Infrastructure Review must deliver better roads

Our roads are the enablers for all our industries to thrive; from moving freight, to connection for tourism and for us who live in regional areas they are our links to our services, schools, sport, family, and friends.  

This past sitting of State Parliament the LNP team continued to advocate for road funding at the risk of the Federal Infrastructure Ministers review. The Federal Infrastructure Minister has admitted that she has been in discussion with the Queensland Labor Government Minister about project cuts. 

Due to the Labor Queensland Government's mismanagement of major projects; Rail Projects in SE Queensland have blown out by Billions of dollars; this has resulted in other projects being delayed or cancelled. 

For 180 days both the State LNP and Federal LNP and local members myself, Dale Last Member for Burdekin and Member for Dawson Andrew Wilcox have been advocating to keep Bruce & Peak Down Highways upgrades a priority; the Shute Harbour Road project which has only just commenced to be funded to final construction.  

The Federal Government has now changed the percentage of contribution from 80/20 Federal to State to 50/50 contribution. This has been brought about by the Labor Government's failure to commence or deliver projects on time or on budget.  

This week was the first time I heard any member of the Government or Minister speak about the review. For the past 180 days they have said nothing and now the decision has been made.  

I am relieved that the Shute Harbour Road project has been funded with further contribution, however we are still waiting in limbo on the Hamilton Plains flood mitigation works which are currently in the Tender process with no further information being provided, even after writing to the Minister over six weeks ago. 

 The LNP is committed to better prioritise, project manage and deliver infrastructure on-time and on-budget and ensure that Regional Queensland receives its fair share in investment infrastructure.