‘Dudded’: Claims QLD missing out as cash for roads, rail goes to Victoria

Queensland is seemingly missing out on a budget cash splash compared to a Victoria, which goes into a state election next month, with LNP Senator Matt Canavan saying the Sunshine State was being “dudded”.

Queensland is missing out on a budget cash splash on roads and rail announced so far compared to Victoria, which goes into a state election next month, but Labor is indicating there will be more money for the sunshine state unveiled on Tuesday night.

LNP Senator Matt Canavan said Queensland was being “dudded” by the Albanese Government seeking to help the Victorian Labor Government, while the regions miss out.

But a government source said the total infrastructure spend for Queensland would be five-times higher than the $1.47 billion in new infrastructure spending announced so far, but would not reveal how much of this would be new funding or confirm if there were new projects.

A per capita breakdown of infrastructure spending announced to date for the October budget reveals Queensland will receive $282 per person, based on the $1.47 billion revealed to date and 5.2 million population.

It is more than $110 less per person than is being splashed out in Victoria – or 40 per cent less.

Senator Matt Canavan. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Only NSW and WA are receiving less money for infrastructure than Queensland on a per capita basis, based on what has been revealed at this point.

Queensland’s total infrastructure budget would reach more than $7 billion over the next four years if it is five times higher than the $1.47 billion in new funding announced so far.

The Morrison Government committed $3.9 billion in new funding in the March budget this year, on top of existing funding continuing through.

A spokeswoman for Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said that the infrastructure announcements made last week were related to funding Labor’s election commitments, and were not the total infrastructure funding for the state.

Infrastructure Minister Catherine King. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The two projects announced from the $1.47 billion for Queensland were $586.4 million to upgrade Bruce Highway through Brisbane’s outer northern suburbs and $200 to upgrade the Bruce Highway between Dohles Rocks Road and Anzac Ave, both within southeast Queensland.

No further breakdown of the $1.47 billion was provided.

Victoria’s infrastructure federal funding announced so far includes $2.2 billion for the Suburban Rail Loop in Melbourne, and $330 million on road, overpass and intersection upgrades.

Senator Canavan said on what had been announced so far, it appeared Labor’s funding was heavily skewed towards Victoria and was not focused on the regions.

“We have a Victorian Infrastructure Minister seemingly obsessed with the Victorian state election,” he said.

“Queensland industry is propping up this budget, but Queenslanders are getting dudded by the Albanese Government as it protects their mate (Premier) Daniel Andrews in the Victorian state election.”