Members of Bruce Highway Advisory Council Luke Bird, Kent Battle have links to LNP political donations

Two members of the state government's new Bruce Highway Advisory Council have been linked to political donations to the Crisafulli Government.

The first Bruce Advisory Council meeting was held in Townsville on Wednesday. Picture by Nikita McGuire

Two members of the state government's new Bruce Highway Advisory Council have been linked to political donations to the Crisafulli Government.

The revelation comes as the committee prepares to hold their second meeting about improving the Bruce Highway in Rockhampton.

Regional representatives on the committee include Luke Bird from Far North Queensland – owner of HEH Civil, and Kent Battle from North Queensland – the third-generation owner of heavy freight services provider Nortrans.

Information on the Electoral Commission of Queensland website shows Mr Kent’s father Rodney Battle, a Nortrans director, made a $6000 donation in February 2024.

Mr Bird also made a donation of $5000 to the LNP in June 2022.

On Thursday Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg said he was looking forward to the next meeting in Rockhampton and said since the first council meeting the state government has restored an 80:20 funding agreement with the federal government and secured a $9bn package for safety upgrades.

“A lot has been achieved since we last met,” Mr Mickelberg said.

“The council allows us to hear from industry experts and everyday Queenslanders who drive and rely on the Bruce in their regions and across the state day-in and day-out.”

The first meeting, held in Townsville in December 2024, brought together stakeholders of the state’s transport and industry bodies, senior government officials, local MPs and everyday Queenslanders with personal experiences of using the Bruce Highway.

The first Bruce Advisory Council meeting was held in Townsville on Wednesday. Picture by Nikita McGuire

Industry and peak bodies in attendance included RACQ, the Queensland Trucking Association, the Queensland Farmer’s Federation, the Queensland Tourism Industry Council and the Local Government.

The first Bruce Advisory Council meeting was held in Townsville on Wednesday. Picture by Nikita McGuire

Speaking ahead of the Townsville meeting in December, Mr Battle said his family employs a large number of drivers that use the Bruce Highway each day.

“I’ve actually got drivers going the back way, avoiding the Bruce Highway which is a more expensive, longer, more time-consuming way to do just to avoid the Bruce Highway with the amount of accidents that have happened recently,” he said.

He said at the time he would like to see more infrastructure and more spending in the North.

“When I saw the opportunity to get on [the board] I jumped straight at it,” he said back in December.

“I’d like to see a safer, more efficient, more reliable Bruce Highway with a lot more features that help everyday people to get home. I never want to make a phone call to a family member of someone that works with us.”

The first Bruce Advisory Council meeting was held in Townsville on Wednesday. Picture by Nikita McGuire

Originally published as Members of Bruce Highway Advisory Council Luke Bird, Kent Battle have links to LNP political donations