Bruce Highway fix: What readers said on PM’s $7.2bn pledge

A $7.2bn Bruce Highway upgrade has been announced by the Albanese Government but what do Queenslanders think? WHAT YOU SAID

An accident causes the closure of the Bruce Highway near Townsville. File picture

The Albanese Government has announced a $7.2bn upgrade for Queensland’s deadliest road, with priority projects due to start immediately.

The federal government agreed to reinstate an 80:20 funding split for the critical national highway, which the Department of Transport and Main Roads had estimated would cost $9bn to achieve the minimum of three out of five star safety rating for the entirety of the Bruce.

It comes after months of coverage from The Courier-Mail’s Help Our Highway campaign, which launched in April 2024.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will formally announce the funding in Queensland on Monday. Picture: AAP Image/(A)manda Parkinson)

The campaign revealed more than half of the highway failed to meet basic safety standards and called on an investment to fix it.

Forty-three people died on the highway in 2024, almost a 40 per cent increase on the annual five-year average of 31.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to Queensland to announce the huge upgrade.

While most Queenslanders were relieved to hear the news, some were not impressed stating it was too late for the families of those lost to the highway.

WHAT YOU SAID

Good news all around!

Frankie

Well done Albo. For those never happy accept the money and let’s get it fixed.

Christine

I agree the road is appalling compared to most in other States however it is also the people on it who drive dangerously and are impatient.

Monica

Good news for our major highway. Every accident on that highway can’t be blamed on the road – some is surely down to poor and dangerous driving.

Glenn

Well done Labor. The LNP had 9 years to fix up the Bruce Hwy and did absolutely nothing. Labor getting on a doing the job!

Mick

Good work by Albo and Labor

Kaymar

Great news but I still won’t vote for him!

Rob M

Thank you Albo and Labor for the 80/20 funding split and the multi billion dollar package. It’s long overdue

Change Coming

Well done to the Federal Labor Government for making this decision. Didn’t happen under Morrison or Abbott so the liberal loyalists can eat some humble pie

Wet weather plays havoc with the Bruce Highway, with some stretches shut down for days. File picture: Zak Simmonds

Election bribes a-plenty

Lisa

Hey Albo, we’re not silly. We know you’re trying to win votes. All smoke and mirrors mate.

William

Isn’t it Amazing what a Looming Election can do,?

Brett

An election is coming and Albo is throwing money around … …

Vincent

The timing of this announcement is no coincidence. However welcome Queensland voters will fall for this

Jane

Must be worried about losing support in rural areas! An election coming up?

Too little, too late

The wise one

Too little too late for the victims and their families

Cassie

Watch what happens, it will go to the people planning it and then be spent around the Sunshine Coast roads, nothing will change up around Miriam Vale and the bad roads up north.

Treisha

Let’s remember the lives he could have saved if only he’d not waited until ‘election mode’ kicked into gear. Bring on the federal election.

Les C

Too little, too late. My word is my bond. It will never happen.

Originally published as Bruce Highway fix: What readers said on PM’s $7.2bn pledge