State ALP answers questions

THE Queensland government has responded to concerns raised by Herbert MP Phillip Thompson regarding its state budget delivered earlier this week.

On Wednesday, Mr Thompson challenged the local Labor MPS to explain why there wasn’t extra funding for crime in Townsville, why there was nothing in the budget for the Lansdown Eco-industrial Precinct, and he wanted to know how the Haughton Pipeline Project Stage 2 was progressing.

Mundingburra MP Les Walker said the government had delivered a record $2.86 billion police budget for 2021-22 to support police in keeping communities safe across Queensland.

“In Townsville there are more than 700 police on the street. We are also investing in a new station at Kirwan,” Mr Walker said.

“Next week the latest intake of officers will graduate from the Townsville Police Academy, an asset the LNP tried to sell when they were in government.”

Regarding the Lansdown Eco-industrial Precinct, he urged the Member for Herbert to read the budget papers properly saying there was funding for upgrades included in the budget.

“We have also already invested $5 million to upgrade the Flinders Highway and Woodstock-giru Road intersection which has been completed,” he said.

When asked about the progress of the Haughton Pipeline, the Queensland government referred the issue to Townsville City Council, which is leading the project.

A TCC spokesman confirmed that they were making progress on the second stage of the project.

“Specialist external consultants have been working to finalise front-end engineering and design tasks including pipe alignment, materials and pump station requirements,” the spokesman said.