Regional roads are turning into trails of neglect as the backlog of maintenance blows out to a staggering $5.3 billion under the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
LNP Leader Deb Frecklington said Labor’s failure to maintain the regional road network was putting the safety of motorists at risk.
“While Labor is fixated on Cross River Rail in South Brisbane, roads across Queensland are becoming more and more dangerous for motorists,” Ms Frecklington said.
“The backlog of road maintenance is blowing out because regional Queensland is not a priority for the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
“Regional Queenslanders are being short-changed by Annastacia Palaszczuk and it’s putting their safety on the road at risk.
“Labor only has band-aid solutions rather than a serious, long-term plan to maintain the regional road network.”
The $5.3 billion renewal backlog* figure was revealed during Estimates this year and the Queensland Audit Office expects it to rise to more than $9 billion over the next eight years**. The renewal backlog includes maintenance work like widening roads, fixing potholes and improving safety.
“The LNP has a job-creating infrastructure plan to improve roads, which includes a 10-year plan for the Bruce Highway, Queensland’s economic artery from Brisbane to Cairns,” she said.
“Investing in regional roads is also an investment in creating local jobs.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk’s Bruce Highway Trust was set up two years ago but it hasn’t held a single meeting.
“The Bruce Highway Trust is another Labor infrastructure lie.
“Only the LNP will manage the economy on behalf of Queenslanders to deliver the infrastructure like roads this state needs.”
Background
Question on Notice No 3: https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/committees/TPWC/2019/Estimates2019-20/qon-29Jul2019-TMR.pdf
