Bart Mellish has refused to say when he first learned of $864m project blowout

Transport Minister Bart Mellish has been accused of channelling predecessor Mark Bailey in refusing to say when he first learned of an $864m blowout to a major Qld road project, the Opposition has claimed.

Transport Minister Bart Mellish has refused to say when he first learned of an $864m blowout on a major Queensland road project – but insisted he was being “open and transparent” about the eye-watering cost increase.

Queensland taxpayers would be on the hook for at least a further $432m to complete the problem-plagued Coomera Connector Stage 1 – sometimes dubbed the “second M1” – which has now blown out from its initial $1.5bn in 2021, to $2.16bn, to now more than $3bn.

A press release issued just over three weeks ago still had the cost listed at $2.16bn.

Mr Mellish admitted on Tuesday during a site visit to Cross River Rail the state government was yet to secure the extra $432m needed from the federal government – which has already agreed stumped up more than $1bn.

Asked whether he had been misleading in signing off a press release on March 4 with the $2.16bn cost, and when he learned the project was now more than $3bn, Mr Mellish repeatedly dodged the question.

Queensland State Development and Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace and Transport Minister Bart Mellish toured the Cross River Rail site today. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

Mr Mellish was given the transport portfolio after new Premier Steven Miles dumped embattled former Minister Mark Bailey.

Mr Bailey came under fire last year after he was accused of hiding a $2.4bn cost blowout on the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program – a blowout which included the deletion of the new cost of the program from a media release.

“We were aware there were cost pressures on this job, it was my role then to ensure we had secured our state component of the funding increase, and we have locked that away,” Mr Mellish said.

“That cost (in the press release) was related to the funding for the project and the funding on the table from the state and federal government. Now I’ve come out and said the state contribution has gone up and we’re asking the federal government to increase their contribution.

“Under normal circumstances, this cost that we’ve put out there would not be public until after the budget process, but I want to be open and transparent, and tell the public (what the) increases are and how they are affecting their local projects.”

The Transport Minister pointed to the “rising cost of labour and materials” and “industry supply and demand challenges for specialist construction equipment” as the reason for the cost increase.

The $864m blowout revelation comes just over a week after Premier Steven Miles refused to consider building a new Victoria Park stadium – as recommended by an independent review – declaring he was more focused on the “best use of taxpayer funds”.

Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bliejie said Mr Mellish’s excuse was the same as the ones Mark Bailey repeatedly handed out. Picture: Mark Calleja

LNP Infrastructure spokesman Jarrod Bleijie on Tuesday called for Mr Mellish to be upfront about when he learned of the new increased price-tag.

“It's the same excuses that Mark Bailey gave, so nothing has changed now we have a new Minister,” he said.

“Labor just cannot handle their budgets.

“We have seen no ministerial accountability, and the very first promise Bart Mellish made when he became minister was to keep costs under control. He has failed that test.”

Mr Mellish was flanked by State Development and Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace during a tour of Cross River Rail, with construction on the $6.3b project due to finish next year.

Former Transport Minister Mark Bailey. Picture: Lachie Millard

He described the new Roma Street station as “a cathedral of public transport in the heart of Brisbane” and the escalator taking passengers up to the surface and out of the station building as “a stairway to heaven”.

“Roma Street is set to become our state’s most significant transport interchange and will provide a vital link for commuters during the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” he said.

“With Suncorp Stadium set to host the opening and closing ceremonies, and the Brisbane Arena to be constructed only a short walk away, Roma Street will bring significant benefits to how commuters travel during the Games and for many years to come.”

Originally published as Bart Mellish has refused to say when he first learned of $864m project blowout