FEDERAL BUDGET Trad attacks ‘dud’ for state
Major spending to go on ‘credit card’
STATE Treasurer Jackie Trad says the Federal Budget is a “dud” and a “hoax” despite a multibillion-dollar infrastructure spend in Queensland.
With the state set to wait a number of years for funding to begin for infrastructure projects, Ms Trad said any construction costs would have to be ticked up on “Queensland’s credit card” to begin with.
Ms Trad also slammed the Turnbulll Government over its refusal to contribute to Cross River Rail, with the State Government pledging to “go it alone” on several occasions.
“It is a budget where Queensland gets the crumbs and other jurisdictions get the lion’s share of a range of programs and infrastructure projects,” she said.
“Firstly, many of these projects are just re-announcements, it’s not new money.
“Secondly, if you combine all of these projects and the money attached to it, some $5.2 billion, it equals one project that Malcolm Turnbull has promised for Melbourne.
“Queensland has to stump up the lion’s share of the money to get these projects up and running because we can’t count on Commonwealth funding for another four to five years. That’s why I say this budget is a hoax for Queensland.”
State Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Ms Trad were “unhinged,” saying they needed to form a working relationship with the Federal Government.
“For months the Premier has been calling on me to get Queensland’s fair share from Canberra, well last night we delivered,” she said,
“Today I am calling on the Premier and Jackie Trad to put the toys back into the cot and start working with the Federal Government. Annastacia Palaszczuk appears to be only serving Bill Shorten and not Queenslanders.”