Friday 13 March, 2020
LNP Leader Deb Frecklington is calling on the Palaszczuk Labor Government to immediately release an extra $500 million for road projects to create new jobs in regional Queensland.
Ms Frecklington said the coronavirus outbreak is set to inflict major damage on the Queensland economy and regional areas need an urgent stimulus.
“Coronavirus is the biggest threat to Queensland jobs since the global financial crisis,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Regional economies have already been hit by the downturn in tourism and they need help as soon as possible.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government has scandalously allowed a $5.4 billion road maintenance backlog to grow over the last five years, leaving regional roads in a dire state.
“Now is the time to get working on that maintenance backlog.”
A recent LNP question-on-notice revealed the full extent of the maintenance backlog:
- Far North Queensland – $308 million
- North Queensland – $831 million
- South East Queensland – $2,445 million
- South West Queensland – $894 million
- Central Queensland – $940 million
Source: www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2019/1922-2019.pdf
“The LNP is calling on Labor to immediately release half-a-billion dollars to bring forward road maintenance work and create new jobs.
“We cannot let a health crisis become a jobs crisis because Queensland already has the worst unemployment in Australia.
“The LNP is calling for action because we cannot afford to lose even more jobs.”
The Auditor-General has forecast that the current $5.4 billion road maintenance backlog will blow out to $9 billion by 2027 unless the Palaszczuk Labor Government takes action.
