MP Llew O’Brien blasts federal government over Tiaro Bypass cut fears

Wide Bay’s Federal MP has lashed the Albanese Government’s decision to leave the fate of the Tiaro Bypass in the lurch amid predicted cuts to major infrastructure projects across the country.

Wide Bay MP Llew O'Brien has blasted the federal government’s decision to leave the fate of the Tiaro Bypass in the lurch amid revelations by Treasurer Jim Chalmers difficult decisions needed to be made about projects in the pipeline to fight inflation.

The future of the $336 million Tiaro Bypass is under a further cloud, with claims the federal government is “jeopardising” the upgrade amid revelations major projects across the nation may be slashed.

LNP MP Llew O’Brien has blasted the federal government for its refusal to protect the four-lane Bruce Hwy upgrade when it carried out its controversial 90-day review of the infrastructure pipeline.

An unknown number of those projects were left on shaky ground this week when federal Labor treasurer Jim Chalmers revealed cuts to the pipeline may be needed to rein in rising inflation.

Mr Chalmers said “difficult” decisions were needed following the review, first announced Transport Minister Catherine King in May.

The government has come under fire over its handling of the review, particularly its refusal to release it publicly since it was completed.

Ms King said in October the review had highlighted “how badly” the LNP handled the infrastructure program, and the delay was to allow the federal government to talk with state counterparts on how to proceed.

The four-lane Tiaro Bypass was among hundreds of projects reviewed by the federal government which are now under a cloud amid revelations the government is considering axing some of the works to fight inflation. Picture: TMR

A spokesman for state transport minister Mark Bailey’s office said that same month it still had not seen a copy of the final report on the review.

This week acting Premier Stephen Miles rebuked Mr Chalmers’ suggestion, and told Bundaberg media the state government could offer “no assurances” about the security of any of the region’s projects in the pipeline.

The federal government has promised $268.8 million for the project.

The remainder would be paid by the state.

Acting Premier Stephen Miles has called on the federal government to leave the state’s infrastructure projects alone and find other ways to fight inflation. pic: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

On Tuesday Mr O’Brien blasted the government over its handling of the review and the uncertainty it had created around the bypass he had fought to secure funding for.

“Ahead of the last Federal election I warned that the biggest threat to the four lane Tiaro bypass would be the election of an Albanese Labor Government and all the Labor Party has done at State and Federal levels is not give this project the priority it needs,” Mr O’Brien said.

“The Albanese Labor Government jeopardised the project by putting it in a so called independent 90-day review at the time of the May Budget.

“It could have quarantined the four lane Tiaro bypass from that review like it did with funding for the Brisbane Olympics but it chose not to.”

“There can only be one outcome that our community will accept and that is for the Government to honour the Coalition’s commitment and immediately fund the four lane Tiaro bypass.”