Labor has zero grounds to shift M1 congestion blame

LABOR Transport Minister Mark Bailey’s excuses for the Gold Coast’s congestion crisis (GCB, 26/01/19) would be laughable if the problem was not so serious.

The Gold Coast’s population is surging towards 600,000 and residents know its road system cannot cope. The M1 grinds to a halt at weekends and in peak hours from Monday to Friday.

Since 1989, the Labor Party has been in power in Queensland for all but five years.

So who did Mr Bailey blame for the Coast’s gridlock in last week’s

Bulletin? The LNP of course. Before becoming an MP, Mr Bailey was a drama teacher.

It seems he still has a vivid imagination and a true gift for farce if he seriously thinks the LNP has caused this transport crisis.

It was the LNP – not Labor – that built the M1 20 years ago.

Since then successive Labor Governments have failed to invest in the road despite massive population growth along the corridor.

Mr Bailey is well aware that it was the last LNP government that began the vital upgrade to exit 54 at Coomera – because he opened it in 2016. We also built and opened several other upgrades when we were in government.

The last LNP government also invested heavily in Gold Coast light rail, just like our LNP colleagues in council and in Canberra.

Last year, the LNP pledged to invest half a billion dollars in the vital Eight Mile Plains to Daisy Hill and Varsity Lakes to Tugun upgrades, prompting similar commitments from the Coalition Government and even Bill Shorten.

Only Annastacia Palaszczuk and Mark Bailey refused to stump up the cash, before agreeing to provide a woefully inadequate $70 million in the next two years.

But even if Labor does eventually fund these projects, we know the congestion crisis will keep getting worse. We need a radical solution and serious investment to get the Gold Coast moving again.

That’s why if I were Premier I would build a second M1 to take 60,000 vehicles off the Pacific Highway and dramatically cut congestion. This new route from Nerang-Broadbeach Rd to Stapylton-Jacobs Well Rd is backed by the LNP and the SEQ Council of Mayors.

Once again, Annastacia Palaszczuk is the only one putting the brakes on the project.

Labor just doesn’t get it. Mr Bailey’s article was packed with empty boasts and buck-passing.

This Transport Minister is presiding over a congestion crisis and a chaotic, crowded rail network, but he couldn’t be more complacent or self-satisfied.

Gold Coast residents have had enough of sitting in traffic jams when they could be spending more time with their families or getting on with their jobs.

They’re paying more and more tax and getting nothing but excuses from Labor.

I guarantee Gold Coast residents that if I’m elected Premier in 2020 I’ll bust congestion and get their great city moving again.

DEB FRECKLINGTON, STATE OPPOSITION LEADER