Queensland state election 2024: Meaghan Scanlon warns of infrastructure cuts if LNP wins
The Gold Coast’s sole Labor MP insists she’s not under pressure in her own seat as she accused the LNP of planning to cut key Gold Coast infrastructure projects.
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The Gold Coast’s sole Labor MP insists she’s not under pressure in her own seat as she accused the LNP of planning to cut key Gold Coast infrastructure projects.
Ms Scanlon, speaking next to the under-construction Coomera Connector motorway at Nerang, took aim at the Opposition, warning future stages of the multi-billion dollar project, among others, were at risk if the government changed on October 26.
She pointed to the former Newman Government’s move to dump the project while in office between 2012 and 2015.
“Our second M1 is at risk of being cut by the LNP,” she said, referring to the Connector.
“David Crisafulli earlier this week refused to reveal how he will pay for his election commitments.
“We know they have a record of cutting the second M1 and when David Crisafulli sat around the Cabinet table the last time they were in government, they axed the second M1.
“You don’t need to take my word for it, take the word of the Gold Coast Bulletin (pointing to the masthead’s coverage of the issue a decade ago).
“They cut the Coomera Connector last time, don’t let them do it this time.”
The Coomera Connector will be a six-lane, 45km arterial road to run from Nerang to Logan.
The road, formerly known as the intra-regional transport corridor (IRTC), has long been part of the state government’s future plans to reduce congestion but was dumped by the former Newman government in 2013, against the wishes of the Gold Coast City Council.
The project was restored in 2015. It is expected to take up to 60,000 vehicles off the M1 every day and was fully gazetted in 2019 by the state government.
Both parties went to the 2020 election with differing plans
Labor pitched a first stage which included includes a six-lane, 16.6km road from Carrara to the Coomera Marine Precinct.
The LNP pledged a four-lane road from Helensvale to the marine precinct, and to build the smaller section in its first term of government.
However, by 2022 Labor’s plans were changed and much of the first stage will now be four-lanes.
The LNP accused the government of a “four lane fraud” saying then-Transport Minister Mark Bailey misinformed motorists about the project.
LNP MP Sam O’Connor, on Thursday, slammed Ms Scanlon’s claims as “nonsense”.
“(The Coomera Connector) is locked in, it’s happening and we announced (support for it) ahead of the 2017 election and have fought for it since then,” he said.
“Had we been elected back then, it would have been built and we would be driving on it now. It is ridiculous that it has taken this long to build.”
Ms Scanlon, who was first elected in 2017, holds Gaven with a 7.8 per cent margin and is facing LNP candidate Bianca Stone.
When asked whether she felt the pressure of the battle, Ms Scanlon defended her record.
“I’ve never taken my seat for granted, This is the seat I grew up in and love and I work for it every day.
“I think locals know I have their back.”
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