TREASURE UP INLAND RAIL
Whirlwind visit for Frydenberg
FEDERAL treasurer Josh Frydenberg has taken aim at the State Government over its reluctance to sign up to an intergovernmental agreement for the $10 billion Inland Rail project.
The treasurer, who has been touring Queensland this week, was in Toowoomba yesterday to inspect a number of projects around the region and meet with the Toowoomba business community.
Speaking after yesterday morning’s business breakfast, hosted by the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce at Clifford Park Racecourse, Mr Frydenberg was questioned whether he was concerned the Inland Rail project was stalling in Queensland.
“Well, it’s incumbent upon the State Government here to sign up to the intergovernmental agreement as other states have done,” he said.
“And as I pointed out in (my) speech, you will see this freight corridor dramatically increase its volumes over time and the creation of 7000 jobs, including here in Queensland, will be very much welcomed as a result of this $9 billion plus investment. “This is a significant investment that we’re making in Inland Rail, and it will produce a much more efficient and effective freight corridor.”
State Transport and Main Roads minister Mark Bailey said the state had consistently said the Federal Government “must deal with the concerns that have been raised by farming communities and those living near the proposed corridor”.
“We want the best outcome for Queensland, and one that considers and responds appropriately to those issues before the project proceeds, which can be dealt with through the timely delivery of Environmental Impact Statements.
“The Australian Rail Track Corporation has consistently failed to meet EIS timeframes and the state’s independent Coordinator-General has issued extensions on three of the four Inland Rail projects.”
Mr Bailey said the State and Federal governments had also jointly funded a planning study to look at a dedicated rail freight link to the Port of Brisbane, which was expected to be completed soon.
Mr Frydenberg also received questions from the business community during the breakfast about where to next for Federal Government investment in infrastructure in Toowoomba.
Under further questioning from media yesterday, Mr Frydenberg was non-committal.
The more than 200 members of the Toowoomba business community yesterday questioned Mr Frydenberg on a range of topics, though they focussed on energy affordability and reliability, and how the region was leading the way with renewable energy.
He also discussed what the Federal Government was doing about red tape, climate change and policy, refugees, constitutional recognition of local government and the importance of regional economic development.