Sunshine rail shunted: Major Qld projects axed from priority list
A war of words has erupted after Jarrod Bleijie accused the Albanese government of shunning Queenslanders by cutting 20 projects from a funding priority list. SEE WHAT’S BEEN CUT
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Opposition Leader Steven Miles has defended the federal government’s history of investment in Queensland after it was revealed Infrastructure Australia had axed multiple developments from its federal funding priority list.
Mr Miles also slammed Jarrod Bleijie for not understanding the process for infrastructure funding after the Infrastructure Minister accused the Albanese government of ignoring Queenslanders.
Just seven projects remain on the Infrastructure Priority List, down from 29, with key projects including the Sunshine Coast Direct Rail, Ipswich Motorway upgrades, Inland Rail and Port of Brisbane projects and the Port of Gladstone upgrade excluded.
The newly revised IPL was sent to Mr Bleijie, prompting him to pen an urgent letter to Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King requesting axed projects be added back to the list.
“As you know, Queensland is the most decentralised mainland state, the most disaster- impacted state, and has the fastest-growing population out of all Australian states,” Mr Bleijie said.
“These factors mean significant infrastructure investment is required to meet the needs of our growing state to connect and service our regional communities. Australian Government investment will be critical to achieving these outcomes.”
Mr Miles, responding today, said: “It’s already becoming clear that … Jarrod Bleijie’s training wheels are really wobbly.
“This is a bloke who does not know what he’s doing, but he’s too arrogant to realise it.
“This was simply a list from Infrastructure Australia for consultation, instead of writing back to them and suggesting that other projects be included, he’s refused to go through that process, and it’s that process that could unlock federal funds.”
Mr Miles reiterated that Infrastructure Australia is independent from government.
“If you want to look at the Australian Government’s priorities, well, the place to look for that is in their budget,” he said.
“They have delivered a lot.”
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers called Mr Bleijie’s comments that Queenslanders had been shunned by the Commonwealth, “ridiculous”.
He confirmed the federal government was supportive of future Sunshine Coast Rail funding.
“These are the same characters you said before the state election that they could get the budget in much better condition without spending cuts and without tax hikes, and they’re discovering how empty their rhetoric was before the election,” he said.
“They’re looking for someone to blame.
“We are enthusiastic about Sunshine Coast rail. We have made huge commitments to stage one of that program, of that project, and we will continue to work with the state government.”
The revised list includes level crossing removal or upgrades, the Salisbury to Beaudesert Rail connection works and Mount Isa to Townsville rail corridor upgrade.
It also includes Bruce Highway upgrades after both Mr Albanese and Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton committed to an additional $7.2bn funding package to finish the highway.
But the state government has argued projects that have several stages, particularly road and rail upgrades, need to remain a priority for future investment.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said Infrastructure Australia, although a key adviser, is independent from government and did not dictate funding.
“The Albanese Government is making record investments in Queensland infrastructure including a recent commitment for $7.2bn to fix the Bruce Highway, taking our total investment in the State to over $28bn,” she said.
“The priority list does not represent Government decisions or all of the projects that the Commonwealth ultimately invests in.”
Ms King assured no funding cuts had been made to active projects.
“Once projects are invested in they come off the list and new ones can come on to the list,” she said.
“The Infrastructure Priority List has not been finalised and the newly elected Queensland Government can provide input and advice to Infrastructure Australia on additional projects to inform the priority list.”
Projects removed from the priority list that are not yet completed but have obtained funding include the Sunshine Coast Rail, Coomera Connector Stage 1, Pacific Motorway Varsity Lakes to Tugun upgrades and Queensland Beef Corridors.
The state government has committed to finishing the Sunshine Coast Rail through to Caloundra prior to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Stage one works between Beerwah and Caloundra are yet to commence, however, the project has received $5.5bn in 50:50 joint funding between the state and federal governments, with total costs up to $7bn.
Mr Bleijie has demanded that future stages seeing the entire 37.8km dual track rail through to Maroochydore be reinstated on the IPL as well as regional road network projects and the Mooloolah River Interchange upgrade.
He also called for Paradise Dam, rail corridor initiatives and Cooranga and Barlil Weir projects be added to the list.
“In addition to the significant number of projects removed from the new proposed IPL, I have been advised that despite the inclusion of the Sunshine Coast Direct Rail future stages in an earlier draft version of the proposed list that was provided to the Queensland Government from Infrastructure Australia this project has since been removed,” he said.
“Omitting the Sunshine Coast Direct Rail future stages project from the IPL is a clear indication of the disregard shown by the Albanese Labor Government to Queenslanders.”
Mr Bleijie has also claimed the federal government has indicated to local government councils that they cannot make direct funding proposals to Infrastructure Australia after the Brisbane Bridge program and Ipswich River Crossing and road projects were also cut from the IPL.
It is understood councils can still make submissions with the support of the state government.
An Infrastructure Australia spokesman said consultation for the IPL was still underway.
“Infrastructure Australia is currently consulting on its Infrastructure Priority List (IPL) and has worked closely with states and territories throughout this process to identify the highest priority nationally significant infrastructure proposals that are ready for an Australian Government investment decision,” he said.
The Albanese government in 2023 slashed $200m worth of infrastructure projects in Queensland following a major infrastructure audit, with the Sunshine Coast Rail, Inland Freight Route, Pacific Motorway Upgrades, Cairns Western Arterial Road duplication and Caboolture to Brisbane Island Road upgrade projects all delayed.
CHANGING PRIORITIES
NEW INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITY LIST:
New digital train control interoperability.
Bruce Highway upgrades.
Mount Isa-Townsville rail corridor upgrade.
Salisbury to Beaudesert rail connection preservation works.
South East Queensland level crossings.
Centenary Motorway upgrade program.
Warrego Highway east corridor works. Upgrading the Dinmore to Helidon Spa section.
FORMER INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITY LIST:
Brisbane River transport program, four Green Bridges. Two completed.
Beerburrum to Nambour Rail upgrade. Stage 1 delivered.
Brisbane to Gold Coast – 10-year network wide program.
Brisbane Northern Suburbs corridor works.
Browns Plains to Beaudesert Rd upgrades.
Browns Plains to South East Busway upgrades.
Cunningham Highway upgrades between Warwick Rd at Yamanto and Ebenezer Creek.
Ipswich City Centre cross river project.
Ipswich Motorway upgrade between Rocklea and Darra.
Ipswich to Springfield Centenary Highway upgrades.
Isaac and Whitsunday water supply project.
Mooloolah River Interchange upgrade.
Pacific Motorway capacity Eight Mile Plains to Tugun, Daisy Hill and Loganholme, and Nerang (Coomera Connector).
Port of Brisbane freight rail connection.
Port of Gladstone land and sea access upgrade.
Queensland inland freight route. Alternative to Bruce Highway.
Queensland inland road network upgrade. Proposal to upgrade flood-prone areas.
Queensland National Land Transport Network maintenance program.
South East Queensland intermodal terminal capacity for Inland Rail.
Southern Gold Coast-North Tweed upgrades (aka Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4).
Sunshine Coast to Caloundra and Maroochydore (aka Direct Sunshine Coast Rail).
Originally published as Sunshine rail shunted: Major Qld projects axed from priority list
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