Labor airs light rail regrets
Federal LNP blamed for Stage 3A funds shortfall
TREASURER Jackie Trad and Transport Minister Mark Bailey both say they regret not funding Gold Coast light rail Stage 3A in last week’s State Budget.
But critics of the Government have slammed the stance, saying that Ms Trad controls the state’s pursestrings and could have included the congestion-busting project.
Ms Trad, who last week defended the lack of funding for the project, yesterday told a CEDA lunch at the Brisbane Convention Centre she had regrets about not including it.
“I would have loved to (have) seen the light rail continued,” she said, responding to lunch moderator and Bond University Vice-Chancellor Tim Brailsford, who asked what the Treasurer wished had made it into the Budget.
Ms Trad used the occasion to call on the Federal Government to increase the amount of funding it was committing to the project.
Ms Trad was unavailable for comment last night but Transport Minister Mark Bailey said he too regretted the lack of funds.
“I’m from the Gold Coast; I love the Coast and I love light rail, so of course it’s regrettable the next stage to Burleigh isn’t ready to start due to the lowest-ever offer from the federal LNP,” he said.
“I have raised light rail in meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister and Cities Minister Alan Tudge since the federal election, so the dialogue is still happening and we’ll continue to work with them to give the Gold Coast a fair deal.”
A business case has been completed for the link from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads. However, the Federal and State governments cannot agree on a funding split.
The Morrison Government last year committed $112 million to the extension, about 16 per cent of the $709 million total cost. State Government and Gold Coast City Council argue it is not enough.
The State Government wants the feds to tip in an extra $157 million to meet its percentage commitment for Stage 1. Ms Trad’s comments were slammed by Opposition MP Sam O’Conner.
“Jackie Trad put together the Budget so she can only blame herself for failing to fund light rail.
“If this is about federal funding, why didn’t Queensland Labor put in a single dollar?
“From what they’re saying there should be a state commitment of 49 per cent but where was it in the Budget? They had no funding in the forward estimates either.”