'Blacksoil upgrade nearly undone'

THE Federal Opposition's attempts to block the mining tax nearly prevented the upgrade of the Blacksoil interchange, according to MP for Blair Shayne Neumann.

Mining tax opposition puts funding for infrastructure such as the Blacksoil interchange upgrade at risk, MP Shayne Neumann says. . Picture: File

THE Federal Opposition's attempts to block the mining tax nearly prevented the upgrade of the Blacksoil interchange, according to Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann.

Mr Neumann said the Coalition's opposition to Labor policies had seen Ipswich and Somerset unfairly targeted.

He said money from the Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT) would provide funding for the $70 million interchange upgrade.

"The MRRT will deliver billions of dollars for new roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure, such as the $70 million Blacksoil interchange upgrade - a critical project for one of our most congested and dangerous black spots," he said.

"We'll get the MRRT though. The work to the interchange upgrade will begin in the new year."

However, LNP Member for Wright Scott Buchholz described Mr Neumann's comments as "typical Labor spin".

"The first thing you always have to ask yourself when it comes to the Labor Party and infrastructure upgrades is whether you trust them to manage it without turning the whole thing into a multi-billion dollar debacle," he said. "To date, their track record isn't good.

"The Coalition has absolutely no objection to funding for regional infrastructure. What we do object to in this instance is the massively flawed means by which they intend to raise the funds."

However, Mr Neumann said the Coalition's ongoing opposition to government infrastructure policies was particularly hurting the Ipswich and Somerset regions.

"They've opposed every investment in Ipswich and the Somerset Region," he said.

Originally published as 'Blacksoil upgrade nearly undone'