Bruce Hwy funding pledge by Peter Dutton, with CFMEU shut out

The Bruce Highway will receive billions in funding regardless of the federal election outcome, after Peter Dutton matched the government’s $7.2bn pledge and vowed to ban the militant union.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has come to the party on the Bruce Highway, guaranteeing funding if the Coalition wins this year’s election.

• Editor’s view: Cue from Crisafulli

The Bruce Highway will receive billions in funding regardless of the federal election outcome, after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton declared he would match the government’s $7.2bn funding pledge to finally bring the deadly stretch up to modern safety standards.

A Coalition government would also ban the CFMEU from all future highway projects, Mr Dutton revealed.

It comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday backflipped on his decision to cancel the 80:20 arrangement in favour of a 50:50 funding split with the state government by committing $7.2bn to upgrades – exactly 80 per cent of the estimated $9bn needed to finish the Bruce.

Mr Dutton, who vowed to reinstate the 80:20 split in September, has confirmed he would both match and potentially increase funding for the highway.

“We will match the government’s commitment to the Bruce and through better management of the economy, we’ll work with the Crisafulli (state) government to provide additional funding to the Bruce Highway,” he said.

“The Coalition will work with the Queensland LNP government on what specific investments are required to achieve a safer highway within the total cost of the commitment that has been made.”

The huge win for Queensland follows The Courier-Mail’s Help Our Highway campaign.

Premier David Crisafulli this week confirmed he would commit the remaining $1.8bn required, with the government to include the first round of upgrades in the 2025-26 Budget.

“It’s a win for Queensland,” he said. “No matter who wins the next federal election, the Bruce Highway will finally be funded.”

Funding from an elected Coalition government will be contingent on the CFMEU being banned from upgrade works.

“(We) will condition the funding to the Bruce Highway to exclude CFMEU involvement,” Mr Dutton said.

“This will mean a 30 per cent or more efficiency … we will build 30 per cent more road – in effect meaning we will drive an extra $2bn-plus more spending on the Bruce Highway.”

The state government will now fast-track an upgrade rollout plan after reinstating the Bruce Highway Advisory Council last month.

Mr Dutton took aim at the timing of Mr Albanese’s funding announcement this week, saying it showed he was panicking about losing more seats in Queensland.

“The Albanese government has cut and delayed funding to Bruce Highway projects over its three budgets, including cutting $488 million from the forward estimates in May 2024,” he said.

“(Mr Albanese) had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the Coalition’s position on the Bruce Highway.”