Mayor angry at federal politicians' bypass forum snub

TOOWOOMBA Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio is upset several key Federal Government decision makers have snubbed next month’s bypass forum.

Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio. Picture: Nev Madsen

TOOWOOMBA Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio is upset several key Federal Government decision makers have snubbed next month's bypass forum.

Toowoomba Regional Council has outlaid $60,000 to host the forum at Picnic Point Function Centre on Friday, February 8.

More than 250 key industry leaders, mayors, stakeholders, statutory body representatives and affected industries have been invited to attend the forum.

However, Cr Antonio said the decision by the Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Queensland Flood Recovery Joe Ludwig, Senator Claire Moore and Prime Minister Julia Gillard not to attend the forum was disappointing.

"I think it is sad they have missed an opportunity to attend a forum of this nature and could not fit it into their busy schedules.

"The forum had always been planned to be bipartisan with the aim to move the project forward in people's mind.

"The door is still open and the opportunity to attend is still there," he said.

Cr Antonio said it was especially disappointing Mr Albanese would be absent.

"It is sad that a key government minister is not attending a forum on what is a critical infrastructure project," he said.

Last year, the State Government completed its updated business case into the Range bypass and submitted it to Infrastructure Australia for consideration.

Cr Antonio said he hoped Mr Albanese's absence from the forum would not play a role in any future decision by Infrastructure Australia to fund the bypass.

"It is very positive that the head of Infrastructure Australia Michael Deegan is attending," he said.

"He has significant influence on all decisions made by Infrastructure Australia."

"A broad number of stakeholders will be attending including those who are interested in a private/public partnership in relation to this project."

Cr Antonio said he wanted the Range bypass to become a significant Federal election issue this year."The timing is very deliberate being at the start of an election year," he said.

"This region is desperate for this infrastructure and we want to cover every base in getting the message across.

"I believe the decision to build the bypass should be an economic decision, not a political one."

The Chronicle contacted the offices of Anthony Albanese, Joe Ludwig, Claire Moore and Julia Gillard. All four confirmed they would not be attending.

Originally published as Mayor angry at federal politicians' bypass forum snub