Crandon sidelined for retorts

COOMERA MP Michael Crandon was tossed out of State Parliament during a heated debate yesterday about Budget funding for the M1.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad and several other ministers had described the Federal Budget funding for the M1 as “a joke” after only $500 million was offered for the bottleneck at Daisy Hill.

Outside the House, Mr Crandon told the Bulletin he had accepted the Speaker’s ruling for interjecting during the Premier’s speech but he was trying to press a point about M1 funding.

“The reason for my interjection was to express the negligence of the Palaszczuk Government and the Minister for Transport and Main Roads for their lack of funding for ... the upgrades to exits 41, 45, 49 of the M1,” he said.

“The Federal Government has included $50 million in this budget as a contribution to the upgrades of exits 41 and 49, and this Labor Government has not put one penny, not even a cracker of funding towards building the upgrades.”

Mr Crandon recalls asking the Premier “what about the $50 million the Federal Government has committed to the upgrade of exits 41 and 49 of the M1” before attacking Transport Minister Mark Bailey’s record on funding.

“I guess I was pretty loud and the Speaker was within his rights to throw me out. I’m just doing my best to stand up for the constituents of the northern Gold Coast and this State Government is doing nothing,” Mr Crandon said.