1 day Ago By Jessica Wang
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has claimed victory following a major $7.2bn funding commitment from Anthony Albanese to upgrade the deadly Bruce Highway. Lauded as the single largest investment into the 1679km corridor, the pledge marks the unofficial beginning of Labor’s re-election campaign and kicks off the Prime Minister’s week-long tour of Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
However, in the minutes before Mr Albanese was slated to begin his press conference, Mr Crisafulli lauded the significant funding boost as a “massive win” for his state LNP government after landing an 80-20 funding split between the federal and state government. “After months of campaigning, we’ve secured the reinstatement of 80:20 funding for the Bruce Highway,” he said. “In two months we’ve achieved what the former state government couldn’t in two years.
Queensland’s fair share of funding from Canberra will deliver a safer Bruce Highway.” Although Mr Crisafulli did not accompany Mr Albanese at his announcement in Gympie, and it’s understood was not invited, the Premier welcomed the announcement, lashing the highway as a “national embarrassment” and “a death trap”. He also acknowledged that Peter Dutton had also committed to an 80:20 funding split, which guaranteed the funding regardless of which party wins the election this year.
“It shows what can happen when the relationship between a state government and a federal government is one that’s based with respect, but with a degree of force, and that mutual respect is the only way to deliver results for your state,” Mr Crisafulli said. “If it takes a federal election for the government to do what should always be done, well, we’ll use that pressure to get a win for Queenslanders.” Mr Albanese confirmed he spoke to Mr Crisafulli on Sunday night, and the Premier identified Maryborough and Benaraby as priority upgrade areas.
Mr Albanese said the funding promise “will save lives”, denying the promise was made to woo voters in regional Queensland. He also noted the location of Monday’s announcement, in the electorate of Wide Bay, a very safe Liberal seat held on an 11.3 per cent margin.
“I don’t regard the Premier as being either Labor or LNP. I regard the Queensland Premier as representing the state of Queensland, and I’ll co-operate with people across the political spectrum, just as I co-operated with (former NSW premier) Dominic Perrottet,” he said. “Peter Dutton has opposed everything that we’ve done, whether it be with Labor premiers or Liberal premiers.
What I’ve done is worked constructively, and I’ll continue to do so, and I look forward to having a constructive relationship with the Queensland Premier on an ongoing basis.”.
