Rocky road row exposed in Queensland ALP’s blazing text war

Anthony Albanese and Annas­tacia Palaszczuk announced a $280m deal to fund a central Queensland road hours after the local Labor MP threatened to quit the seat and the party.

Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey. Picture: Tara Croser

Anthony Albanese and Annas­tacia Palaszczuk announced a $280m deal to fund a central Queensland road hours after the local Labor MP threatened to quit the seat and the party.

Rockhampton MP Barry O’Rourke accused trouble-prone state Transport Minister Mark Bailey of having “totally f$@ked” (sic) up crucial regional infrastructure in explosive text messages leaked to The Australian.

In a group text exchange, which included left faction powerbroker Garry Bullock and Queensland Labor president John Battams, Mr O’Rourke last week unleashed on Mr Bailey over delayed funding for the Rockhampton Ring Road.

“Mate if you do not announce funding next week in Rocky. I’m out,” Mr O’Rourke wrote. “F – k u and the Labor party.” (sic)

Construction on the $1.1bn Rockhampton Ring Road was due to start in January but was shelved in the federal government’s recent budget after cost blowouts during the tender process.

The decision to delay the project by at least four years triggered fierce backlash from the local business community as some companies had already invested in new staff and equipment in preparation.

Nationals senator Matt Canavan and Capricornia MP Michelle Landry seized on the political fallout, joining a convoy of Rockhampton industry leaders to Canberra in November to lobby for funding.

Six silos on Rockhampton’s outskirts were painted bright green earlier this month reading “Start Rocky Ring Road 2023” and “Keep Your Promises”.

Mr O’Rourke sent a photo of the silos to the group text exchange last week.

“Final silos. You can not miss it. Canavan is now personally ringing all the community support organisations, small businesses and employment agencies,” he wrote.

“This is pretty well f&@ked.”

Local MPs Brittany Lauga and Barry O’Rourke, centre, with Mr Bailey and federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King in Rockhampton.

Mr Bullock replied: “Yep already sent to Albo’s office last week.”

Mr Bailey: “We’re doing all we can to reprofile it internally with the two contractors Barry.”

Mr O’Rourke: “Mate you are the one that has totally f$@k this up. Absolutely avoidable.”

Mr Bailey: “That is absolute nonsense Barry and that’s not ­appropriate either.”

Mr O’Rourke: “Mate if you do not announce funding next week in Rocky. I’m out. F – k u and the Labor party. I am a man of my word and I am proud of what I have done for Rocky, I’ve cared for the people for better of 30 odd years.”

The next day, Mr O’Rourke apologised to the minister for ­“losing it”.

Mr O’Rourke: “I have been copping abuse regularly and I am taking it all personally.”

Mr Bailey: “Apology accepted and I and my office will keep working closely with you and Brittany (Lauga} to support you through a tough time.”

Other Queensland Labor sources have criticised Mr Bailey for failing to fight for the project ahead of the budget.

The day after the text exchange, the Prime Minister and Queensland Premier announced a $280m package to revive the project in return for Ms Palaszczuk directing state-owned generators to cap coal prices for a year.

Mr Bailey said the funding agreement had been reached, and publicly flagged, weeks before the texts were sent. “The preliminary details of the $280m construction package for the Rockhampton Ring Road were announced at a community forum at the Red Lion Hotel in Rockhampton on Nov­ember 15, so any suggestion it was because of a text message almost a month later is clearly inaccurate,” Mr Bailey said.

In a statement, Mr O’Rourke said his messages were sent “in the heat of the moment”.

“I apologised to the minister for my strong language. I am incredibly passionate about this project,” he said. “Rockhampton has had a very good outcome.

“I am excited to see the Rocky Ring Road delivered.”

A Labor source said Mr ­O’Rourke’s outburst was out of character. “I have never seen him angry,” the MP said.

“I think it has come from a place of frustration and feeling like he has to deliver for his ­community.”