Federal Budget ‘promises’ will go on state credit card, says Jackie Trad

QUEENSLAND Treasurer Jackie Trad has hit out against last night’s Federal Budget, labelling it a “dud” and a “hoax” despite a multibillion-dollar spend on the state’s infrastructure.

QUEENSLAND Treasurer Jackie Trad has hit out against last night’s Federal Budget, labelling it a “dud” and a “hoax” despite a multibillion-dollar spend on the state’s infrastructure.

With money not made immediately available for a number of projects outlined in the budget, Ms Trad said any major construction would have to be put on “Queensland’s credit card” in order to begin work soon.

Ms Trad also slammed the Turnbull Government over their refusal to contribute to the much-hyped Cross River Rail, despite the State Government pledging to “go it alone” on a number of occasions.

Queensland Treasurer Jackie Trad was not impressed with the 2018 Federal Budget. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

“It is a budget where Queensland gets the crumbs and other jurisdictions get the lion’s share of a range of programs and infrastructure projects,” she said.

“Firstly, many of these projects are just re announcements, it’s not new money.

“Secondly, if you combine all of these projects and the money attached to it, some $5.2 billion, it equals to one project that Malcolm Turnbull has promised for Melbourne.”

Despite Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten also only committing to a 50/50 funding split on projects such as the M1 highway, Ms Trad called on Mr Turnbull to offer an 80/20 arrangement to relieve the state of extra costs associated with upgrading the road.

“Bill Shorten is offering more money for more projects, so Cross River Rail is an example of one. Where Federal Labor departs from the LNP is that they actually understand you need rail, you need roads, you need a combination of infrastructure projects if you are actually going to bust congestion,” she said.

“Let’s be clear, it all depends on how you package it, the spend on Queensland - $5.2 billion – compared to one project, to just one project, in Melbourne, the rail line from Melbourne to Tullamarine that is equivalent to all of the projects in Queensland.”

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington slammed both Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Ms Trad, labelling them “unhinged” over the issue.

“For months the Premier has been calling on me to get Queensland’s fair share from Canberra, well last night we delivered,” she said,

“Today I am calling on the Premier and Jackie Trad to put the toys back into the cot and start working with the Federal Government.”