Labor’s pledge to upgrade the Bruce Highway has already run off the road, with their Finance Minister contradicting the Prime Minister’s claim that funding will be delivered this year. Instead, the Finance Minister admitted the funding won’t be available until after the forward estimates, leaving Queenslanders waiting until 2028 for crucial upgrades.
Federal Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry, slammed Labor’s hollow promises and lack of leadership, calling out their blatant election stunt.
“Just a week ago, the Prime Minister assured us the funding for the Bruce Highway was ready to go. Now, his own Finance Minister says the funds won’t flow until 2028. Both statements can’t be true, and the people of Queensland deserve to know which one is,” Ms Landry said.
“Our Bruce Highway is not a political pawn to win an election. Lives have been lost, families devastated, and last year, when tragedies struck, Labor was silent. Instead of stepping up, they took an axe to vital funding for Queensland’s national highway.
“This so-called funding announcement reeks of desperation. It’s a last-ditch attempt to salvage trust as an election looms. If Labor truly cared about saving lives on the Bruce Highway, they wouldn’t park the funds until after the next election.”
Ms Landry challenged Labor to release a detailed timeline for the promised funding to reveal who is really telling the truth.
In stark contrast, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has reaffirmed the Coalition’s genuine commitment to fixing the Bruce Highway.
“A re-elected Coalition Government will deliver an additional $7.2 billion to make the Bruce Highway safer and more reliable.
“This builds on the over $10 billion already invested by the former Coalition Government to upgrade Queensland’s lifeline.”
The Coalition also pledged to restore the historic 80:20 funding model, stripped away by Labor.
“Queenslanders deserve real action, not empty rhetoric. Only a Coalition Government will deliver the funding and upgrades the Bruce Highway desperately needs, not in 2028, but now,” Ms Landry concluded.
