Premier ready to take the fight for Gold Coast M1 funding straight to Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk is preparing to shirt-front Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull over funding for the M1 the next time she sees him.

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk is preparing to “shirt-front” Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull over funding for the M1 the next time she sees him.

“I will raise the matter with the Prime Minister at the earliest opportunity,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk has also challenged Gold Coast federal members to lobby Mr Turnbull about the M1.

An aerial view of the crash scene on the M1 on Monday. Photo: David Clark

“Every federal seat on the Gold Coast is held by a member of Malcolm Turnbull’s Government,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“They have a duty to stand up for the concerns of the citizens across this region.”

The funding stoush kicked off last month when the Federal Government promised $110 million, or half the cost.

But the State Government has stood firm, asking for the Federal Government to stump up the usual 80 per cent share.

A truck was left on its side after a crash on the M1 on Monday. Photo: Alison Marks

Ms Palaszczuk’s comments came a day after a smash on the M1 hospitalised two police officers.

An investigation has been launched into the smash in which a truck clipped a police car at Helensvale at about 11.25am.

Charges have not been ruled out, with the forensic crash unit investigating.

Truck driver Mark Lee yesterday said a moment of inattention was to blame for the accident for which he would never stop feeling sorry.

Member for McPherson Karen Andrews declined to speak to the Gold Coast Bulletin but referred instead to comments she made about the M1 on community radio station 4CRB on June 30.

She said she had already lobbied the Prime Minister for the $110 million allocated last month.