Deb Frecklington has accused Labor of “ripping off” taxpayers after the party’s costings revealed only a fraction of required funding had been set aside to build a second motorway to the Gold Coast.
The duplication of the M1 has been a key election commitment of both major parties, but Labor’s costings, released on Monday, showed the party had not set aside enough money to complete the project.
Announcing the party’s commitment in September to building the Coomera Connector – the official name for the second M1 – Labor said the project would cost $755m.
But the costings flagged only $270m over four years.
Ms Frecklington said Treasurer Cameron Dick was “ripping off the people of the Gold Coast”.
“Labor has been exposed for their hoax and their phony announcement around the second M1,” she said.
Ms Frecklington campaigned on the Gold Coast on Wednesday in the marginal Labor electorate of Gaven, held by Meaghan Scanlon with a buffer of 0.7 per cent.
The LNP leader announced the party would spend $35m to upgrade a roundabout at Gooding Drive as part of a $1bn congestion fund.
“This upgrade is on top of the LNP’s plan to build a second M1,” Ms Frecklington said.
“We will partner with the Federal Morrison government and we will get it done.”
The Opposition Leader also criticised Labor’s decision to cite an economic analysis, prepared by a Labor council candidate in Melbourne on behalf of a think tank that has Labor advertising guru Dee Madigan on its board, as supposed proof that the LNP would need to cut public service jobs to meet its election commitments.
Ms Frecklington has repeatedly ruled out the “cuts” and labelled the claims as “Labor lies”.
“I cannot standy by for a minute longer and think it is ok for another four years of failure, the highest unemployment rate in the nation,” Ms Frecklington said.
“These are shocking records that the Palaszczuk Labor government have to explain to the people of Queensland.
“No wonder they have roped in an advertising agency, I think from Melbourne, to do their policy documents. They’re going to need a lot more than that.
“No wonder Cameron Dick can’t even deliver a budget if they were relying on an advertising agency.”
Ms Frecklington repeatedly refused to declare what she would do in the event of a hung parliament, which polls suggest is a real possibility.
“I am aiming every single day for a majority government,” she said.
“I believe in ambition, I believe in vision and I believe in Queensland’s future.”
Asked if she had a good relationship with Katter’s Australian Party leader Robbie Katter and Noosa independent Sandy Bolton, Ms Frecklington said it was “a matter for other people to judge”.
“But I have a great working relationship with all parliamentarians,” she said.
“I am someone who always says a big hello, a big g’day, no matter who it is and where they are because we are all Queenslanders and I just don’t believe in giving someone a snub because they don’t have the same political beliefs.”
Ms Frecklington, who has said an LNP government would not make budget cuts for Queensland Health, would not rule out whether she would ask other departments to find savings.
Labor has said Queensland Health would be required to find $1bn in savings to pay for the party’s election commitments.
“I’ll say this to the hard-working doctors and nurses of Queensland Health: an LNP government would never ask you to do more than the hard work that you’re already doing,” she said.
“These men and women work every hour that God gives them to work hard on behalf of us, to keep us safe, to keep us healthy and the Palaszczuk government seriously think they should work harder. That’s an insult to our doctors and nurses.”
