Queensland Parliament and Question Time blog: Taxpayers foot $1.24m bill for Cross River Rail ads

Queensland taxpayers are footing the staggering $1.24 million advertising bill for one of the State Government’s pet projects, which the Opposition claims is being used to save a Minister’s job.  

QUEENSLAND taxpayers have shelled out a staggering $1.24 million to advertise the Palaszczuk Government’s pet Cross River Rail project.

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New figures released overnight show the Government has spent a whopping $667,492 on ad placements spruiking the underground rail line between July 2017 and April 30 this year.

Another $575,442 was spent on the production of the ads, which ran across television, newspapers, social media, radio and billboards.

The spend was less than the more than $2 million that had been budgeted to advertise the project over the past two years, however Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington seized on the figure claiming it was another example of the Government’s waste.

“It’s staggering that Jackie Trad has already spent more than $1.2 million of taxpayers money advertising a project to save her own job,” she said.

“This is yet another example of Palaszczuk Labor Government waste and Labor would be better off ensuring this project is delivered on-time and on-budget, rather than just spinning the benefits.”

Roma Street Station’s busway interchange will undergo a $250 million underground transformation to create a seamless connection to the Palaszczuk Government’s Cross River Rail Project. Picture: Queensland Government

In her response to a Question on Notice, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad defended the advertising bill, saying it had been used to promote Cross River Rail’s website during the expression of interest and procurement process.

“As Cross River Rail construction continues, it is important that impacted communities know where to access information,” she said.

“The (CRR) Delivery Authority will continue to engage with southeast Queenslanders through effective, efficient, and appropriate activities aligned with construction activities and the project’s continued progress.”

Ms Trad also used the opportunity to take a swipe at the LNP, pointing to the $11.2 million the Newman Government spent advertising its Strong Choices campaign.

The Government announced on Tuesday that $1.48 billion would be spent next financial year to begin major construction work on Cross River Rail.

Originally published as Queensland Parliament and Question Time blog: Taxpayers foot $1.24m bill for Cross River Rail ads