Insulted MPS in fight for Bruce

Urge ‘big picture’ approach

North Queensland MPS are “insulted and infuriated” after the Labor government promised $467m for Bruce Highway works in marginal electorates, with one saying a “big picture plan” is needed.

LNP MPS Phillip Thompson and Andrew Willcox have come out swinging after the pre-budget announcement, which will fund works in the Far North and South East.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers made the announcement, which comes off the back of this publication and sister publications pushing for major upgrades to the Bruce Highway with the Help Our Highway campaign.

The stretches of the Bruce Highway in the electorates of Dawson (Willcox), Herbert (Thompson) and Kennedy (Katter’s Australia Party’s Bob Katter) are considered some of the worst.

The announcement comes just days after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the highway “should be better” and match the Pacific Highway.

Mr Thompson said the Bruce Highway upgrades should have a “big picture approach” and hinted that the Coalition would go to the election with a plan.

He said it was important that whatever plan was implemented needed to stay in place through multiple terms of government, regardless of who was in charge.

“It is a failure of this government not to have a big picture plan, and I think it’s pretty disgraceful that places like Townsville … the capital of northern Australia hasn’t had allocations of funds to repair the Bruce (in this announcement),” Mr Thompson said.

He also pointed out the last Coalition government had promised funding in different areas in its final budget.

Mr Willcox described the announcement as a slap in the face for Dawson.

“The section of the Bruce Highway that runs through the electorate of Dawson has been rated the most dangerous section, and this announcement by the Albanese Labor government sees funding provisions for everywhere but the area that needs it the most,” Mr Willcox said. “This comes after the Prime Minister cut more than $200m worth of road projects in Queensland following his infrastructure review, as well as lowering the funding contribution provided by the federal government to help complete these projects.”

He said it was “insulting” that Mr Chalmers had described it as a “budget for the Bruce”.