Mark Bailey admits cost blowout on Qld rail project: What you said

Transport Minister Mark Bailey has been forced to admit a Qld project has blown out by billions – but many have already had enough. JOIN THE CONVERSATION

• ‘Bailey the builder’, ‘whiney whinging’ LNP

Transport Minister Mark Bailey has been forced to admit the Gold Coast Faster Rail project had blown out by more than $3.1 billion – but many have already had enough.

The Palaszczuk government cabinet member has repeatedly refused to provide details about the cost escalation, insisting the full details would be released once negotiations with the Commonwealth had completed.

Mr Bailey said earlier this month the project, originally estimated to cost $2.6 billion, had increased to “a bit more” than $5 billion after details of the project emerged during the federal government’s infrastructure review.

He again refused to reveal the cost to taxpayers when quizzed on November 28, insisting it was not “appropriate process”, and said: “I still have not yet received any formal notification from the federal government in relation to the matter.”

But Mr Bailey was stumped when it was revealed the Commonwealth had published an estimated cost on the Department of Infrastructure website, with the cost of the project now estimated at more than $5.75 billion.

Mr Bailey was forced to admit the figure was correct.

That sparked many readers to again call for his dumping, while others said there were wider issues that also need to be addressed.

See what you had to say below, cast your vote and join the conversation >>>

WHAT YOU SAID

Time to go!

Andrew

So Boo Boo Bailey bungles again and says “the Federal Government have broken faith” which standard State Government mantra – he can’t blame Newman for this one so it’s the Feds fault! Just hopeless

Peter

Bailey should go immediately

Regional Ranger

This bloke is on a slippery path.

bev

Palaszczuk obviously doesn’t have the power to sack him or she would.

She’s not the one in charge.

Gazza_Brisbane

When will the Queensland Governor step in and say enough. Ego Anna and her incompetent ministers need to be removed now. They demonstrate zero accountability, zero responsibility, zero integrity and zero respect for Queensland.

BEM

How can this incompetent Minister still be drawing his salary. Even Palaszczuk can’t continue to protect this factional underperformer!

The Minister has been forced to admit the cost blowout.

There are bigger issues

John

Minister Rail Fail fails to deliver again. How many times is this? This is what happens when people vote in hapless union lackies.

Paul

No wonder taxis and ride share are in such a mess – this guy couldn’t run a bath!

Brad (constantly censored)

Suck it up you lot. You all willingly and repeatedly voted for this.

Farmerp

Qld Olympics $50b. Just a little blow out

oldlawyer

If our population was not growing so rapidly, we would not need all of this badly- planned, pricey infrastructure. No other Western nation takes in migrants at such high average rates year after year. The infrastructure has to be provided now (including health, schools roads, housing) but the contributions to the tax base come later.

Blowout? Who cares?!

Gman

Big deal.

These people, both State and Federal, are splashing around hundreds of billions of dollars on Wind and Solar infrastructure.

The only infrastructure that matters atm is residential housing.

The Fred

Petty Cash when compared to the LNP’s Snowy 2.0 Estimate $2 Billion up at $13 Billion and rising, with Labour left to sort out their incompetence

Michael

They don’t care they are all on the take with the unions.