LNP pollies tell stalling Transport Minister Stop whinging and sign the deal
TRANSPORT Minister Mark Bailey has been branded a “cry baby” and whinger for flat out refusing to stump up money that would fix gridlock on the M1.
Both Federal and State LNP MPs are stunned by Mr Bailey’s failure to match Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s plan for both governments to tip in $1 billion each to ease the crippling congestion on the state’s busiest road.
“Mark Bailey is a whinger and has been a cry baby about matching funding on the M1 since the Palaszczuk Government was elected in 2015,” LNP frontbencher Ros Bates said.
“It’s the end of the road for Mark Bailey as far as I’m concerned. He’s had plenty of time to fix the M1. He’s a failure and foolish. Annastacia Palaszczuk should sack him.”
State LNP leader Deb Frecklington yesterday tweeted “drivers are sick of political point scoring and just want action”.
She said if she was elected premier at the next election the project would be funded in the “next State budget” along with a second M1 on the Coast.
Mr Bailey responded to yesterday’s announcement by Mr Turnbull by saying the offer of $1 billion in upgrades for the Pacific Motorway on a 50-50 basis was “better than nothing”.
The State Transport Minister continues to argue that the Federal Government should fund the M1 like other national road projects on an 80-20 basis.
His response has shocked the Federal Government because there was a legitimate offer of funding for a stretch of road that would soon face gridlock.
A Bulletin campaign during the past year has revealed one of the main exits on the Pacific Motorway has been operating at over capacity by almost 3000 vehicles a day for at least four years.
Daily capacity of 162,000 vehicles could be reached as early as next year, and the congestion expected to cost workers more than $400 million in lost wages.
Federal Government sources said even if Labor wanted to argue the 80-20 funding line, they struggled to find logic in rejecting Mr Turnbull’s offer.
Trade and Tourism Minister Steve Ciobo believes Labor’s response speaks volumes about the shocking financial bottom line of the State’s budget.
“Mark Bailey and State Labor need to stop with the excuses,” said Mr Ciobo, the MP for the Coast seat of Moncrieff.
“There’s $1 billion on the table right now. Take the money, make the project happen, listen to the Gold Coast. Enough is enough with the excuses.”
Mr Ciobo said the State Labor Government was pretending the issue was about funding arrangements.
“That’s rubbish. The problem here is the State Labor Government is broke.
“They don’t have any major infrastructure projects. That’s why they are baulking at putting $1 billion on the table. That’s $1 billion in funding to make sure the Gold Coast keeps moving forward.”