Leyland Barnett presses leaders for answers about the Bruce Highway

Not everyone gets the ear of the Queensland Premier and the Opposition Leader, but Bruce Highway safety campaigner Leyland Barnett did when the pair were in Rockhampton. Find out what he asked them and what they said.

Leyland Barnett and Adrian Barnett have been pushing for a ‘fit for purpose’ Bruce Highway after Adrian’s daughter Emily tragically passed away at only 21. Picture: Aden Stokes

Not everyone gets the ear of the Queensland Premier, but Bruce Highway safety campaigner Leyland Barnett did while he visited Rockhampton and after hearing his answer, he has some extra advice for Steven Miles.

Mr Barnett, who tragically lost his 21-year-old niece Emily Barnett in a Bruce Highway accident in 2021, had submitted the Courier Mail reader question for the Premier and Opposition Leader to answer, asking when serious action would begin on upgrading the highway north of Gympie.

Mr Miles focused his answer heavily on the progress and benefits of the “huge” $1.7 billion Ring Road project in Rockhampton while also highlighting a list of priority upgrades they were currently seeking Federal Government funding for with the State’s share being $250 million.

 

Mr Barnett, a Rockhampton driving instructor, thanked Mr Miles for his answer but urged him to concentrate on what he believes are the biggest dangers to travellers.

“The trouble with the Bruce Highway is we need the roads wide enough so that traffic can move off the highway if they need to stop,” he said.

“If you get a flat tyre how are you going to move off the highway safely if there’s no room?”

Leyland Barnett has been pushing for a fix to the Bruce Highway.

Mr Barnett said that narrow highway problem was further compounded in areas subjected to bouts of thick fog like Bajool.

“If the fog is really bad how do you move off the highway (if there’s nowhere) you can get off?” he said.

“The Bruce Highway is not fit for purpose.

“Please fix up our highway and attack those strategic areas that can save lives. We don’t want any more blood lost on the roads as it is.”

The family of Emily Barnett - uncle Leyland, aunt Davina, father Adrian and mother Stacy - signed the safety pledge at the launch of Rural Road Safety Month.

LNP leader David Crisafulli also answered Mr Barnett’s question.

In summary he said if elected he would reinvigorate the Bruce Highway Advisory Committee to provide a roadmap to upgrade the “goat track ”.

He would also demand the Federal Government honoured the long held 80-20 funding share for national highway works.

 

“We’ll be also using the federal election campaign as a referendum on the Bruce if we were to form government this time, and I reckon you’ve seen my track record in holding both sides accountable, in contrast to this government across health and roads, and it will be a particularly uncomfortable experience for those who don’t want to come on that journey.”

Originally published as Leyland Barnett presses leaders for answers about the Bruce Highway