Palaszczuk ‘not happy’ with federal infrastructure funding overhaul

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has called on her federal Labor government counterparts to “do what’s right” for the growing state when overhauling major infrastructure funding.

Infrastructure Minister Catherine King announced states would be pushed to pay for at least half of new road and rail infrastructure after a yet-to-be released review of projects given federal support.

“Right now, Queensland needs more infrastructure, not less,” says Annastacia Palaszczuk. Credit: Matt Dennien

King told an infrastructure summit on Tuesday that while a drop in overall funding was not proposed, full federal funding or 80:20 per cent splits with the state would no longer be the default.

The federal government would also only financially support projects in which its contribution would be at least $250 million, to limit projects to those of “national significance”.

Federal government warnings of delays or cuts to suburban projects in a bid to claw back $33 billion in cost blowouts have already sparked calls by Deputy Premier Steven Miles for “tax cuts for wealthy households” to be reconsidered instead.

Speaking in parliament, Palaszczuk said she wrote to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after seeing the proposal’s overall figures, but not a full breakdown.

“And Mr Speaker, I’m not happy,” she said. Palaszczuk cited the significant number of Australians moving to Queensland from interstate, and the looming 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

She said her government continued to argue 2032 Games projects needed to be quarantined from those being delayed or cut, and the state had to receive its fair share, considering population growth.

“I will be fighting to keep Queensland’s big build on track to deliver the infrastructure Queenslanders want and need,” Palaszczuk said.

“So, I’m calling on the federal government to do what’s right. Right now, Queensland needs more infrastructure, not less.”

LNP deputy leader Jarrod Bleijie later sought to portray the comments as a “fake fight” between the two Labor governments.

Palaszczuk was also pressed during question time on reports that her government had commissioned taxpayer-funded focus group research worth at least $393,000 to help improve services and shape policies ahead of next October’s state election.

Limited details of the existence of the research, but not its contents, were obtained by News Corp under right to information laws but were reported to have been heavily redacted – or outright refused – because they were taken into cabinet and were then subject to confidentiality.

“It’s not uncommon for states, and even the federal government, to undertake such surveys,” Palaszczuk said.

Her government commissioned research from the same firm, Ipsos Public Affairs, around the pandemic response across a period including the 2020 state election.

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