Scott Stewart and Les Walker speak on Copperstring project they say is at risk of being cut by LNP

For the second day in a row, Townsville Labor MPs are using props in a final effort to win over voters before Saturday’s election. This time, showing how they believe the LNP will ‘cut’ the Copperstring project.

Scott Stewart and Les Walker say the LNP will cut projects like Copperstring on Thursday.

For the second day in a row, Townsville Labor MPs have brought out the props in the final days of election campaigning before Saturday’s election.

With a piece of wire and a pair of scissors, Mr Walker and Mr Stewart on Thursday demonstrated the “cut” they say Copperstring will see if the LNP is elected, along with a real-estate style sign with the words “LNP Real Estate”, “For Sale”, We’ll sell any asset!” and the contact details as “David Crisafulli 1300-LNP-CUTS”.

Giving an update on the progress of the Copperstring project, Member for Townsville Scott Stewart explained why Copperstring is “so important”, saying it was the “biggest thing being built in our history”.

“We know that Copperstring is such an important nation-building infrastructure that is going to unlock the north, particularly that North West Minerals Province, where we expect to see around $500 billion worth of those critical minerals that the world will need to decarbonise their economies and their futures located in that area,” he said.

“That’s why Copperstring is so important.”

Member for Townsville Scott Stewart and Member for Mundingburra Les Walker show their lists of what they say the LNP will cut if elected during a press conference on Wednesday in Townsville.

Mr Stewart said so far there have been 52 work packages, which include services such as construction, communications, logistics, haulage among others, and around 680 expressions of interest coming from suppliers.

“260 are located right here in North Queensland,” he said.

“That’s great news for our kids who are sitting in our schools, that there are jobs there for them whether it is in the resource industry or whether it’s going to be in the building of this nation-building infrastructure.”

Member for Mundingburra Les Walker backed what he said on Tuesday, saying ‘dodgy Dave’ will “cut” the Copperstring and privatise Ergon and Powerlink if elected.

“We know that they are not into a vision or a plan for Queensland’s future,” he said.

“All these $18 billion worth of promises they kept saying they’re costed, but they are not funded. There’s a big difference. Everything’s costed, but there is not $1 that has been funded towards these projects.”

Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie with LNP candidate for Townsville Adam Baillie at Castle Hill Lookout in Townsville on Wednesday.

When asked for his response to Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie ’s comment that the LNP was on the record supporting Copperstring before Labor on Tuesday, Mr Stewart called the comment “appalling”.

“This is something that we have pushed time and time again,” he said.

“A a Labor government we are the one’s who’ve funded this. We are the one’s who are delivering Copperstring, for them to come out and put their name on our homework is absolutely appalling.”

“I can’t believe Jarrod Bleijie had the audacity to say that sort of thing.”