Queensland government laments ‘misleading’ transport funding change

Date: 20.11.2023

Queensland’s transport and main roads minister says the state will be “significantly worse off” following the move

Queensland government laments ‘misleading’ transport funding change

The Queensland government says funding changes for transport projects will impact the state the most

The Queensland government has slammed a recent federal government announcement removing funding from key transport infrastructure projects around the country.

Queensland transport and main roads minister Mark Bailey says the claim that this move will result in a so-called boost to roads in Queensland is misleading.

"The decision to reduce federal government funding splits on regional roads from 80:20 to 50:50 has been estimated by Transport and Main Roads (TMR) to cost Queenslanders between $600 million and $1 billion per annum," Bailey says.

"This is on top of cuts made elsewhere, such as the decision to cease funding projects including the Mooloolah River interchange, the cap on funding on road corridors and changes to funding splits on existing projects.

"Queenslanders will therefore still be significantly worse off."

Bailey says that although Queensland has the third largest population of any state, the state has the largest regional road network in the nation, meaning the proposed change of funding has the largest impact on regional Queenslanders than regions in any other jurisdiction.

"Queensland is the only state in Australia with more people living in regional areas than the capital and there is a disproportionate number of fatalities on our regional roads," Bailey says.

"We will not be deterred from our campaign to maintain current funding arrangements of 80:20 from the Commonwealth, as clearly Queensland should have a different regional roads funding formula to other states given our decentralisation and largest road network in the nation.

"We have a forward infrastructure and roads program that is based on our booming state-wide population and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032. Our plan is critical to supporting the Games, growth and keeping Queenslanders safe."