LABOR’S BRUCE HIGHWAY FUNDING FARCE

• Coalition announced 80/20 Bruce Highway funding split four months ago.
• Labor’s funding comes after $488 million cut.
• Queenslanders deserve better than Anthony Albanese using the Bruce to buy votes.

Shadow Minister for Northern Australia, Senator Susan McDonald has scoffed at Labor’s sudden interest in upgrading the Bruce Highway, urging the Federal Government to stop using a major Queensland issue for political point-scoring.

“Peter Dutton said in September that a new Coalition Government would reinstate the 80/20 road funding model that Labor scrapped as part of its decision to cut $488 million for the highway,” she said.

“As a result of Labor’s cuts, $108.2 million less will be spent on Bruce Highway upgrades this financial year compared to the previous budget allocations.

“Furthermore, there were billions missing from road maintenance in Queensland under the previous Labor State Government even as State LNP Members kept pointing out major issues with road safety and accessibility.

“Labor at all levels has shown scant regard for Queensland’s regional roads, and it’s sad that the only time Anthony Albanese cares about it is when there’s an election looming. I don’t blame people for treating this announcement with some scepticism.”

Senator McDonald, who is based in Townsville and is a lifelong user of the Bruce Highway, said any additional funding was welcome but urged Federal Labor to release detailed costings and delivery dates.

“The previous Coalition Government launched a $10 billion package of works for the Bruce Highway that reflected its national significance and the scale of improvements needed,” she said.

“I am in regular contact with transport companies, road safety advocates, tourism operators and commuters dismayed by the lack of attention to our national highway in Queensland.

“Every year the highway is cut due to flooding, preventing basic goods and services reaching people. Every day there are bad accidents and near misses which could be reduced with widening, rumble strips, more overtaking lanes and clearer signage.

“The issues with the Bruce are not new, and Queenslanders deserve better than short-term vote-buying announcements.”

ENDS