ALP accused of DriveIt neglect
THE State Government has come under fire for not committing funding to the DriveIt NQ proposal for a motorsport and driver training facility in Townsville despite Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper claiming he had always been passionate about the project.
DriveIt NQ spokeswoman Madonna Simmons has criticised Labor for its lack of commitment and said actions spoke louder than words.
Both One Nation and the LNP made funding commitments to the $ 23.5 million pro- ject, proposed for Calcium, during the state election.
One Nation committed $ 10 million while the LNP pledged $ 18.3 million. The Federal Government had also committed $ 5 million to the project.
Mr Harper said he had worked extensively with DriveIt NQ during his last term.
“It’s something that I will continue to pursue,” he said. “I will always be behind it.” Mr Harper said securing State Government funding for the project would be one of his priorities in the new year.
“It’s a matter for the Cabinet to make funding commitments,” he said. “I consider it particularly important.”
Mr Harper said he would work with new Treasurer Jack- ie Trad on the plan when State Parliament resumed next year.
Ms Simmons said the only parties who had offered action were those not in power.
She said the Labor State Government had three years to deliver funding.
“They ( Labor MPs) all said to us that they were expecting an announcement,” she said. “I think they tell us what we want to hear and not what we need to hear.”
Ms Simmons said the project would inject $ 35 million into the economy.
“They’re numbers that have been crunched by several organisations, so why is it that the LNP and other parties ( have committed funding) but Labor hasn’t?” she said. “Aaron ( Harper) does support it but why hasn’t it happened?”
Townsville Enterprise CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said the project required grant funding.
“There is now $ 5 million of federal funds secured, so how can DriveIt work with the state to deliver this project for the community?” she said.