Analysis: Bribie Island bridge duplication is shameless pork-barrelling

In a case of shameless pork-barrelling, the state will spend on one 800m bridge what it’s pledged in additional funding for the Bruce Highway over three years, writes state political editor Hayden Johnson.

An artist’s impression of the bridge duplication

Refusing to spend critical cash on the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Premier Steven Miles’s government has resorted to playing games.

On the eve of an election it’s on track to lose, the state government is choosing to spend big to save seats.

The duplication of the Bribie Island bridge without a business case is shameless pork-barrelling.

Rather than wait for the business case to determine whether it’s money well spent, or for the federal government to split the cost, the state has promised to go it alone with a $700m pledge.

Imagine how many Wellcamp quarantine facilities they could build and donate to wealthy businessman for that cash?

(Answer: three.)

The state will spend on one 800m bridge what it’s pledged in additional funding for the Bruce Highway over three years.

Premier Steven Miles (front) with Treasurer Cameron Dick at Tuesday’s announcement. Picture: Lachie Millard

It will be the single most expensive road infrastructure project the state is going it alone on.

What’s worse, it will be funded by borrowings just one year after Treasurer Cameron Dick banked $12.9bn in royalties, $2.5bn of which he used to give everybody $1000 off their electricity bill.

It’s like winning the lottery, giving it away and then getting a bank loan for a beach house.

This nine-year Labor government has an odd relationship with projects and business cases.

It has attacked the lack of a business case on the LNP’s plan for a rail line to Maroochydore and a community proposal to build a stadium at Victoria Park.

Hypocritically, it had no business case for a pledge to demolish and rebuild the Gabba and now says a second Bribie Island bridge is good value.

It’s okay not to have a business case if you’re building in a Labor-held marginal electorate, it seems.

The LNP launched a full-throated attack on the government for stealing its idea to duplicate the bridge, so it should also detail whether they’d use borrowings to pay for it.

Building for tomorrow’s Queensland is critical, but taxpayers deserve to have their money properly managed today.