Federal Budget 2018: Queensland warns PM not to work against it

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has put the Prime Minister on notice as the Federal Budget looms.

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PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has called on the Turnbull Government to stop “working against” her Government and deliver the state its fair share in today’s Federal Budget.

Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison has so far announced about $5.2 billion in infrastructure funding for Queensland ahead of the unveiling of his pre-Election budget.

Ms Palaszczuk and Treasurer Jackie Trad, however, said a large portion was old money that had been repackaged as new cash.

They also slammed the lack of funds for Cross River Rail.

“Let’s be frank here, Malcolm Turnbull has not wanted to give Queensland its fair share for the whole time that he has been in office,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“We want our fair share.”

Ms Trad said the Government wanted to see the detail in the Budget when it came to commitments made by Mr Morrison before agreeing to chip in the required state cash.

“We are not asking for anything more than Victoria. We are not asking for anything more than NSW,” Ms Trad said.

“We want to see fair dinkum money put on the table for Queensland.

“We will be going through the Budget papers ... and we will be making sure that if Queensland doesn’t get a fair share that we are going to remind Queenslanders each and every day leading up to the next Federal Election.”

Treasurer Jackie Trad in Question Time

Ms Trad said she was still going through her own Budget preparations when asked if she would commit to matching the $1 billion in M1 funding the Commonwealth announced.

But she said the would be “money on the table” for the Sunshine Coast rail duplication.

The Commonwealth has pledged $390 million for the vital rail link.

Originally published as Federal Budget 2018: Queensland warns PM not to work against it