The Palaszczuk Government is heading towards another ‘cross river ‘fail’ by missing the first key deadline for its supposed priority infrastructure project.
Deputy Opposition Leader and Shadow Infrastructure Minister Deb Frecklington said Labor’s failure to establish a delivery authority by the target date has raised questions over their commitment to deliver Labor’s ‘biggest infrastructure priority’.
“Labor’s own secret business case for Cross River Rail lays out a timeline that recommends the delivery authority to be established by October 2016,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Considering the minority Palaszczuk Government need to pass legislation through Parliament before this authority can be set up, it raises serious doubt over Labor’s promise to build Cross River Rail.
“What’s caused the delay? Maybe ‘not happy Jackie’ can’t get the legislation through Labor’s divided Cabinet after taking control over from Transport Minister and faction rival Stirling Hinchliffe.”
Ms Frecklington said Labor has set Cross River Rail on a path to derail following a series of fails, which has put a cloud over the future over the project.
“The Palaszczuk Government has bungled Cross River Rail from the start by picking fights with different the Federal Government and Brisbane City Council over funding, while keeping the door open for $5 Billion worth of secret taxes,” she said.
“How will this Government deliver the infrastructure Queensland needs when they can’t even get the pre-construction basics right?”
“Labor always wants to make Queenslanders pay for its fiscal incompetence and we’re seeing again with Cross River Rail.
“Labor’s public transport legacy is chaos and failure and unfortunately it’s always Queensland commuters who ultimately lose out.
“Under Labor, this project has become Cross River Fail.”
Labor’s Cross River Fails:
- Six secret taxes proposed to fill Labor’s funding black hole.
- Trains and other project costs not included in business case affordability assessment
- Business case not publicly released
- Publicly released benefit-cost ratio didn't factor in the European train control system so benefits of project were significantly over stated
- Inability to agree to funding arrangements with Federal Government or Brisbane City Council
- Albert Street station subject to potential flooding
- Actual project costs exceed $15 billion not the $5.4 billion quoted by 'not happy Jackie'
