'ABBOTT A TRAM PIGHEAD'

TRAD LASHES PM OVER FUNDING

A “PIG-HEADED” Prime Minister Tony Abbott has rejected the State Government’s offer to support an extension of the Gold Coast light rail, without reviewing its business model.

Just six weeks after telling Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk he would consider funding the tram-to-train connection as an addition to the nation’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games commitment, the besieged PM has slammed the door on the must-have project.

The move potentially dooms any hopes of completing the connection before the 2018 Games and means the State Government and Gold Coast City Council could be forced to go it alone.

In a letter to Ms Palaszczuk this week, Mr Abbott said the only way the project would gain federal support was for the state to sell assets, a concept rejected by both Labor and the LNP Opposition.

“As you know it is our clear position that Commonwealth funding does not go directly to commuter rail,’’ Mr Abbott wrote. “Our focus on roads and freight also means your Government has greater capacity to direct funding to stateowned and operated infrastructure such as the light rail.

“The Government’s focus is on repairing the budget.”

Mr Abbott vowed to consider the funding matter after meeting with Ms Palaszczuk during the Council of Australian Governments meeting in July.

A furious Deputy Premier Jackie Trad last night slammed Mr Abbott as “pig-headed” and said his stance was “completely disrespectful to the people of the Gold Coast”. “This is inconsistent with what the Prime Minister said to our Premier and it is a slap in the face for all Gold Coast residents,” she said.

“The Prime Minister is being pig-headed and to call for asset sales when, for two state elections, Queenslanders have said no.

“This is completely disrespectful to the people of the Gold Coast.”

Ms Trad said federal support was needed to get the project off the ground, and lobbying efforts would continue.

The State Government and Mayor Tom Tate had already come to an agreement to commit funding in a bid to deliver the system by 2018.

Councillors were expected to discuss the matter on Tuesday at the first budget meeting of the financial year.