David Crisafulli’s light rail pledge to southern Gold Coast

LNP leader David Crisafulli has spelled out what he says will be a key difference in his government’s approach to light rail if he wins next month’s election.

LNP leader David Crisafulli has again declined to commit to building a rail line to Gold Coast Airport.

The Opposition has announced it will review plans to extend light rail to the airport if elected next month, while plans to extend the heavy rail line from Varsity Lakes remain on the back burner.

On Thursday it was reported that on a visit to Caloundra Mr Crisafulli suggested Queensland would be embarrassed if a proposed heavy rail extension to Maroochydore was not completed in time for the 2032 Olympics.

Asked on Sunday if the state would be similarly embarrassed if there was no rail connection to Gold Coast Airport by that date, Mr Crisafulli said he was committed to listening to locals on the matter.

“What’s been embarrassing is that the government has foisted their views on a community without listening to them and treated them like a doormat,” he said.

“If government changes, that attitude will change.

“ ... Let’s start by committing to talking to the community and listening to their views. That’s day one for us.

“I think everybody, particularly in the southern end of the Coast, would welcome that. It would be a refreshing change.”

Shadow Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber, LNP leader David Crisafulli and LNP Gaven candidate Bianca Stone, at the Men of Business Academy premises in Southport.

Mr Crisafulli has previously said that doing nothing was “not an option” and the Gold Coast would get its fair share of infrastructure under an LNP government.

Premier Steven Miles in May said Labor was “100 per cent committed” to light rail and heavy rail on the Gold Coast, but referred to work on a detailed business case when asked if he could guarantee the extension would go ahead in time for the Olympics if his government was re-elected.

“We have a process underway to consider all those things but what people on the Gold Coast know is that only Labor governments deliver for them public transport,” Mr Miles said.

The light rail stage four extension to the airport was called into question after a preliminary evaluation of stage four plans earlier this year estimated the project could cost as much as $7.6 billion to build.

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Originally published as David Crisafulli’s light rail pledge to southern Gold Coast