Keppel MP Brittany Lauga threatened over Rocky-Yeppoon Road upgrades

‘I will not be swayed by a dumb threat’: Keppel MP defends herself over serious death threat over road project.

Keppel MP Brittany Lauga.

Staff at a Central Queensland politician’s office have dealt with a serious death threat against the Labor MP, prompting urgent party action and police involvement.

A staff member working for Keppel MP Brittany Lauga in her Yeppoon office received a volatile phone call last Thursday (March 23) from a local man who “disagreed with the engineers’ designs to upgrade Yeppoon-Rocky Road”, and went on to threaten the life of Ms Lauga.

Ms Lauga was in chamber meetings on Wednesday afternoon and was unable to speak with the media about the incident, but shared her dismay at the threat on social media.

“Road upgrades often result in public debate about the engineering and design, but this is the first ever death threat I’ve received regarding an upgrade which will improve the safety, capacity and flow of the 11,500 vehicles which use this road every day,” she said.

“Let me be clear: I back the work of the engineers and planners at the Department of Transport and Main Roads and I will not be swayed by a dumb threat from someone with zero experience in designing and engineering roads.”

She went on to explain she had been fighting for upgrades to Yeppoon-Rocky Road for years and consultation had been ongoing for several years with landholders and motorists.

State and federal funding of $80 million has been secured to upgrade the notorious stretch to four lanes between Iron Pot and Hedlow Creek with 2.5 metre shoulders.

The threat was immediately reported by the staff member to Ms Lauga, who reported it to party officials and police.

It is understood Ms Lauga has received a number of threats against her life during her time in office, all of which have been dealt with seriously.

The Queensland Police Service has been contacted for comment.