Queensland treasurer Jackie Trad rules out transport levies for light rail and Coomera Connector

Taxes to fund both the Gold Coast light rail and the Coomera Connector have been ruled out by the State Government.

TREASURER Jackie Trad is ruling out transport levies to build key transport projects like light rail and the Coomera Connector.

But she speculates the LNP may consider a toll on the first stage of the second M1 between Nerang and Coomera.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Jackie Trad insist there will be no tram tax Picture: Jerad Williams.

Ms Trad was responding to LNP leader Deb Frecklington suggesting Labor was considering a new levy on Gold Coast light rail after LNP obtained Treasury documents via a Right to Information request.

The Government maintains the documents confirm Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast councils are using a transport levy component in budgets to help fund their contribution to major rail projects.

Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3A will not lead to a special levy.

“There was no state government levy for Stages 1 or 2 of Gold Coast Light Rail and there won’t be one for Stage 3, where planning is complete and procurement well under way.,” Ms Trad said.

“Planning and consultation is also well under way on the Coomera Connector after it was blocked by the LNP when in power – again, no levy from Labor there.”

Labor has turned the heat on the LNP. Picture: Jerad Williams

Ms Trad is accusing the LNP of putting up smokescreens to divert attention from the party’s disastrous start to the Currumbin by-election where its retiring MP Jann Stuckey criticised her own party after not securing her preferred candidate.

Ms Trad highlighted that Labor planned and developed Gold Coast University Hospital, delivered Coomera’s new Foxwell State Secondary College and would deliver a new primary school at Pimpama.

“The LNP keep making expensive promises with no indication of how they will pay. The Coomera Connector is a vital piece of infrastructure between Queensland’s two biggest cities.

“There’s only one party that hasn’t ruled out levies to pay for infrastructure like the Coomera Connector – the LNP. It’s time for them to come clean with the Gold Coast.”

Ms Frecklington earlier this week said the LNP would deliver a stronger economy which could fund required infrastructure.