Wide Bay MP accuses minister of dodging question on Tiaro bypass

Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey has been accused of avoiding the question when he was asked to fast track the design of the four lane Tiaro bypass

Federal MP and Former Policeman Llew O‘Brien who suffers from PTSD from years of being a First Responder to road crash fatalities along notorious stretches of the Old Bruce Highway. Photo Lachie Millard

Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey has been accused of avoiding the question when he was asked to fast track the design of the four lane Tiaro bypass by Wide Bay’s Federal MP Llew O’Brien.

Mr O’Brien, who fought for four lanes before securing funding from the Federal Government earlier this month, said it was “worrying” that Mr Bailey was ignoring important questions about the bypass.

“Instead of answering questions Mark Bailey reverts to his default routine of personal attacks and avoiding the issue,” Mr O’Brien said.

Last week, Mr O’Brien urged the State Government to fast-track the design for a four-lane Tiaro bypass after Mr Bailey said it won’t be done until the end of next year.

Mr Bailey sent a response to the Chronicle, saying Mr O’Brien’s “lazy ways” saw him take years to get funding from Canberra for a four-lane Tiaro bypass, but he did not address the issue of fast tracking the design of the bypass.

Mr O’Brien accused Mr Bailey of resorting to name calling and personal attacks instead of answering the question.

“We all know Tiaro is the four-lane bypass Minister Bailey never wanted,” Mr O’Brien said.

“He cannot hide from his words when on September 18, 2020, he rejected four lanes, saying ‘volumes there are much lower, there is a lot of capacity, there is no issue about gridlock or hold ups at the moment in that section and there’s not foreseen for the next couple of decades.’

“And now after community pressure and being forced to backflip, Minister Bailey is trying to kick the project out into the long grass.

“If the State Government doesn’t prioritise this project we won’t see construction until 2024.

“Lives depend on getting this job done as soon as possible.

“As I said in my previous statement, the federal money for the project is on the table, it’s ready to go.

“The only roadblock on getting this four lane Tiaro bypass done is Minister Bailey and the Queensland Government.

“Mark Bailey needs to listen to the community and listen to the 4000 people who signed petitions for a four lane Tiaro bypass and get it done.”