Time Table Needed For Cross-River Rail

Media Release.

 

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says the Newman Government needs to explain how or even if it will fund the Cross-River Rail project essential to the South East Queensland rail network.

“If the Newman Government is confident it can build Cross-River Rail by itself after rejecting $715 million in federal funds, it should declare start and finishing dates for the project,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Tony Abbott made it clear he will not contribute a single cent to Cross-River Rail, so the Premier needs to explain where he will find the savings to fill the hole left by his refusal to accept the $715 million the Labor government put on the table."

“If job cuts are the way to source $715 million, that means 7,150 more government workers being sacked."

“If the funds are to come through other savings, we need to know exactly what frontline services are to go. Or is the Premier contemplating borrowing the money?"

“The bottom line is that if the Premier is so confident of funding the project after rejecting a federal contribution of $715 million he needs to say today when the project will start and when it will finish.”

Ms Palaszczuk said the Premier had just three years to build Cross-River Rail to avoid a looming network capacity crisis in 2016. 

“The election of an Abbott Government hasn’t changed the fact that we are still only three years away from reaching capacity on our SEQ rail network,” she said.

“Despite this, Tony Abbott is shamelessly stripping $715m out of the federal budget for Cross River Rail, as well as funds for passenger rail projects in other capitals such as Melbourne, Perth, and Adelaide."

“If Brisbane’s Cross-River Rail is not built then the network will hit capacity in 2016 and traffic will worsen as people are forced onto the roads."  

“It also means rail passengers facing slower trips, crowded into carriages like sardines, and making more trips standing than sitting especially during peak hours,” she said.