Gold Coast civic leaders call for light rail, M1 and NBN funds in tomorrow’s federal budget

FUNDING for a light rail extension to the airport and widening of the M1 have topped the wishlists of Gold Coast leaders ahead of tomorrow night’s federal budget.

Treasurer Scott Morrison at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

FUNDING for a light rail extension to the airport and widening of the M1 have topped the wishlists of Gold Coast leaders ahead of tomorrow night’s federal budget.

While Treasurer Scott Morrison has talked down the likelihood of any “sweeteners” on the eve of the election campaign, civic leaders say the Turnbull Government must invest in the city’s future.

The city’s MPs arrived back in Canberra this morning for the resumption of federal parliament, which will sit for the final time this week before the July 2 election.

The budget papers were printed in Canberra last night ((MAY 1)) and will be kept under lock and key today before Mr Morrison unveils his maiden budget speech.

Mayor Tom Tate, who met with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Melbourne late last week, said he had established an “authentic working relationship with the State and Federal governments” and hoped for investment in the Gold Coast in tomorrow’s budget.

“I’m confident further Federal and State investment in our city along the lines of innovation and smart city initiatives will allow us to continue to broaden our economic base so we aren’t so reliant on tourism and construction,” he said.

“The NBN roll out is extremely important before the Games because we will have more than 3000 of the world’s media here for this event alone and they need fast broadband.

“Planning ahead, we ensured stage one of the light rail included the underground conduit for NBN and we will do the same with stage two.”

Cr Tate was backed by Gold Coast Combined Chamber of Commerce president Martin Brady whose wishlist focused on infrastructure upgrades and the rollout of the NBN.

The light rail’s third stage is expected to run from Broadbeach to Gold Coast Airport and $600,000 has already been promised by Cr Tate to fund a feasibility study.

Work began on the northern stage two link last week connecting Helensvale to stage one at Griffith University.

Gold Coast Tourism chief executive Martin Winter urged the Federal Government to reverse one of its most controversial measures from the 2015 budget — an increase on the tax paid by tourists on working holidays.

Tourists are now charged 32.5 cents in the dollar — up from the previous rate of 19 cents.

Mr Winter took aim at Moncrieff MP Steven Ciobo who now serves as Trade Minister in the Turnbull Government and urged for a rethink.

“The tourism industry is clearly now the industry with the best potential to deliver growth for the economy,” he said.

“To do this we need to property promote this country so specifically we are looking for significant increases in funding to Tourism Australia.

“We want to see the income tax impost on youth travellers rescinded because it only acts as a disincentive for young people to come to Australia for extended periods.

“We would expect that Minister Ciobo’s influence as the minister responsible would have some influence over this.”

Mr Winter said extra funding for tourism adverting would be best used to talk up the country and the region in major locations such as the US, China and Europe.