David Crisafulli: Queensland premier blasts Labor over Bruce Highway upgrades

The Opposition is pushing the state government to release funding time frames for upgrading NQ sections of the Bruce Highway, but the Premier says it is “bordering on embarrassing” that the party’s even asking.

Speaking in Townsville, Mr Crisafulli -- picture here on Bribe Island -- said he was not going to respond to Labor’s criticisms about the Bruce Highway “because they are bordering on embarrassing”. Picture: Tara Croser

Premier David Crisafulli has labelled comments from the Opposition about the Bruce Highway in North Queensland as “bordering on embarrassing”.

With the Albanese Federal Government committing $7.2bn in additional funding for the much-maligned highway, Labor demanded the LNP deliver upgrades between Bowen and Townsville, and Ingham and Innisfail.

This comes after Shadow Treasurer Shannon Fentiman said anything short of full budget funding for the two priority stretches “would be breaking a promise to not abandon regional communities”.

“If we want to get shovels in the ground this year, then funding needs to appear in the budget this year.”

Shadow Treasurer Shannon Fentiman says Queensland Labor is calling on the Crisafulli LNP Government to fully fund critical upgrades for the Bruce Highway in the state budget. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Shadow Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish said that despite the confusion caused by the LNP on major projects such as CopperString, there remained optimism for the region’s future.

“The Bruce is critical to realising that potential”.

Speaking in Townsville, Mr Crisafulli said he was not going to respond to Labor’s comment “because they are bordering on embarrassing”.

The Crisafulli LNP Government has previously claimed credit for restoring an 80:20 funding agreement with the Federal Labor Government as well as securing a $9bn package for safety upgrades as part of that deal.

“If the (state) Labor Party’s question is, ‘how did we get 80/20 funding after two months when they couldn’t after 10 years?’, well sit down and let’s have a cup of tea and I’ll explain to them,” he said.

“But it starts with being positive and what they’re doing today shows that they haven’t learned very much.”

Queensland Ambulance Service respond to yet another accident on the Bruce Highway between Ingham and Innisfail. Picture: Cameron Bates

Labor maintains that the LNP had not provided funding and delivery time frames for the two stretches of highway despite being outlined as priority sections in funding agreements and in Mr Crisafulli’s “glossy Olympics document”.

Townsville MP Adam Baillie said that if Ms Fentiman, who was scheduled to travel from Brisbane to Townsville on Wednesday, had driven instead of flown she would have seen five projects underway.

“I want to challenge Shannon Fentiman, cancel your plane trip back to Brisbane, get in the car and drive on the Bruce Highway and through the mess you’ve left us in,” he said.

Mr Ballie said the government was “getting on with the job” and “fixing up all that mess for Queenslanders”.

“We’re going to deliver the Bruce Highway that Queenslanders can be proud of.”

Originally published as David Crisafulli: Queensland premier blasts Labor over Bruce Highway upgrades