THEY’RE DRIVING US ROUND THE TWIST

MAYOR Tom Tate says he is “sick” of being Australia’s Oliver Twist in the quest for extra funding to extend the light rail – and says it is time federal and state politicians

respected the gold mine that was the

Gold Coast. He said the city injected $35.2 billion into the state economy each year and billions more to the Federal Government via taxes.

“I’m sick of going cap in hand every year to ask for our fair share. Oliver Twist got a better helping from the soup bowl than we get,” he said. “When the Gold Coast economy fires, Queensland hums and the state is humming like a bumble bee.”

MAYOR Tom Tate says he is “sick” of being Australia’s Oliver Twist in the quest for extra funding to extend the light rail network – and politicians need to respect the tens of billions of dollars the city generates for the state and federal economies each year.

A frustrated Cr Tate unleashed on dithering state and federal politicians squabbling over who should pay what for Stage 3A of the light rail.

The Mayor said the Gold Coast deserved better treatment, given the city injected $35.2 billion into the state economy. He said the Federal Government was pocketing billions more via income and property tax.

“I’m sick of going cap in hand every year to ask for our fair share. Oliver Twist got a better helping from the soup bowl than we get,” he said.

“I’ve always said that when the Gold Coast economy fires, Queensland hums and the state is humming like a bumble bee right now.

“Economic data speaks volumes, with the Gold Coast pumping billions back into the state coffers through stamp duty and tourism revenue.

“The first two stages of rail have proven to provide a real uplift in property values for those near the line. That uplift drives further state and federal revenue.”

Both sides of federal politics are refusing to budge from the $112 million committed to expand the trams from Broadbeach to Burleigh. The State Government says they are $157 million short.

Coast politicians such as Senator Murray Watt and Sam O’Connor have been heavily criticised for showing little fight for the Gold Coast.

National Institute of Economics and Industry Research data shows the Gold Coast’s economy has the momentum of a runaway freight train, with its gross regional product making up 11 per cent of the entire state.

It has grown by more than $5 billion in less than four years as more than 15,000 people move to the city annually.

Robust building approval figures, which defy the national average, have also injected more than $3 billion into the economy.

On Saturday, state Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the Federal Government was $157.5 million short of its Stage 1 commitment of 38 per cent of the total costs. For Stage 2, it pledged 22 per cent. So far, Canberra has committed 16 per cent of the $709 million needed to build Stage 3A.

For Stage 1 of the light rail, the State Government provided almost 49 per cent of funding. That ballooned to 64.3 per cent for Stage 2.

Rookie MP Sam O’Connor argued the light rail was a state project and it was lucky to get any funding from the Commonwealth.

Cr Tate said he wanted an end to the funding disputes.

“Light rail, the M1 or M2 should never end up as a state versus federal public spat over money. Delays hit national productivity so the state and feds lose out ultimately from lost productivity.

“The top levels of government need to plan and set aside funds for obvious future infrastructure.

“They need to run their affairs like a corporate operation. Taxpayers are their shareholders ... give them the certainty they rightly expect.”

Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall said ongoing funding commitments were needed in recognition of the city’s growth.

“Our population is growing exponentially and from a business perspective, not having the security of ongoing funding does not make sense,” he said. “You would not run a business like this. You need to be able to keep all areas of trading coming into the city as well as the workforce moving.”

I’M SICK OF GOING CAP IN HAND EVERY YEAR … OLIVER TWIST GOT A BETTER HELPING FROM THE SOUP BOWL THAN WE GET

MAYOR TOM TATE