LNP leader Campbell Newman sends contradictory messages on $8 billion Cross River Rail plan

CAMPBELL Newman has caused confusion over the $8 billion Cross River Rail plan, contradicting himself on whether the LNP can fund it.

Campbell Newman

CAMPBELL Newman has dug a hole for the Liberal Nationals over whether he would build a crucial project to ease inner-Brisbane rail congestion.

The LNP leader yesterday initially indicated the LNP would build the $8 billion project, then said he wouldn't, before finally saying he didn't want to pre-empt his own decision.

The former Brisbane lord mayor created the Cross River Rail conundrum as he released the LNP's infrastructure blueprint. The plan is equally contradictory, with one section implying the project was a priority while a later part commits the party to other projects.

A large swathe of the LNP's infrastructure discussion paper was the wishlist recently compiled by the Southeast Queensland Mayors.

It prompted Treasurer Andrew Fraser to condemn the LNP plan as "late, unfunded and plagiarised".

Asked about Cross River Rail following the release of the infrastructure discussion paper, Mr Newman yesterday initially said he was "totally supportive" of a project to fix inner-city rail congestion.

"The current project is the work of schemers and dreamers in the Labor Government who have had six years already to deliver this project," he said. "We will make it happen is my point today."

However, when pressed on the issue Mr Newman said the LNP would come up with an alternative at some stage.

"I am not going to pre-empt our solution," he said. "But the point is we will deal with it."

Under the heading "critical priority projects", the discussion paper states work on the Cross River Rail would "begin immediately".

But the project has not even been included this year as a priority in the Southeast Queensland Mayors' submission which makes up more than half the LNP's discussion paper.

Mr Fraser said Mr Newman had been a "financial disaster" for the council and the infrastructure plan showed the LNP had no idea how to fund its own priorities.

"If Campbell Newman handed this in at uni he'd be failed and expelled for plagiarising half the document," he said.

Opposition transport spokesman Scott Emerson was forced to clarify, saying the LNP would upgrade the Southbank and South Brisbane stations initially.

He said this would improve capacity beyond when the only link into the city from the south, the Merivale Bridge, reached capacity in 2016.