Money for transport upgrades, studies as federal Labor courts SEQ votes

The Albanese government has tapped its $5.5 billion election war-chest so Labor can promise $200 million for a series of existing and co-funded projects in south-east Queensland.

After announcing the funding on Thursday, Infrastructure Minister Catherine King held a media conference in Brisbane with local Labor candidates to promote the party’s commitment to the city.

The funding – from $5.5 billion set aside in the October budget update – includes $50 million for Brisbane City Council’s planned business case for an extension of the Metro network.

The federal Labor government has promised $2.25 million to scope the work required on Brisbane’s Story Bridge.Credit: Courtney Kruk

“We know how popular Brisbane Metro has been here in Brisbane,” King told reporters at New Farm.

Another $2.25 million would be spent helping the council scope the work required to restore and maintain the Story Bridge – “one of the most iconic bridges in the country” – while $1 million would go towards an updated business case for a pedestrian and bicycle bridge from Toowong to West End.

King said $5 million would go towards a $12 million council project to complete the missing cycle link between the Western Freeway Bikeway and Bicentennial Bikeway at Sylvan Road.

“What we’re trying to do is provide as much opportunity for people to move around,” King said.

Other funding would go towards covering blow-outs in the cost of the Indooroopilly roundabout project, and safety upgrades for the Brisbane Valley Highway.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner welcomed the funding commitments, although the council’s transport chair, Ryan Murphy, said ongoing support would be needed to “keep Brisbane moving”.

“While business case funding will help us progress these critical projects, ongoing support from all levels of government will also be required to deliver them,” Murphy said.

While the federal Labor government this week found another $2 billion for the Melbourne airtrain, King said Queensland would need to formally request funding to deliver on the LNP’s pledge to extend rail to Maroochydore before 2032.

King said she had not been briefed on the draft report of the review of Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games venues and infrastructure, and would not comment on any hypothetical changes or implications for the Commonwealth-state funding agreement.

She said she was aware the Crisafulli government had the draft because she had received a text message from Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie.

“We look forward to hearing about it as soon as the Queensland government is ready to share that with us,” King said.

Bleijie had said only the final report would be shared with stakeholders in a two-week confidential consultation process set to start next week.

With a federal election due within months, the federal Coalition will also have an opportunity to outline its commitment to Brisbane and south-east Queensland, and how its plans differ to those of the Labor government.

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