Federal Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry, is thrilled to see contracts have been awarded to begin the first phase of construction after Labor attempted to shelve the Rockhampton Ring Road late last year.
Ms Landry said while it is promising for the Rockhampton Ring Road project to have contractors awarded for the early stage works to begin construction, the Albanese Government is yet to fully commit to the crucial infrastructure project.
“The Coalition Government were fully committed to this vital project and construction was ready to commence late last year.
“Labor had the Rocky Ring Road on the chopping block in October last year but weren’t prepared for the outrage of our local community.
“It took an enormous amount of people power to push the Albanese Government to provide funding for early works packages but we are still not out of the woods. Labor have only allocated enough funding for the first stage of works, all other funding for the project is still not committed.
“The politics played by both levels of Labor Governments have seen the Rocky Ring Road delayed by a year. What our business community needs now is assurance from Labor that the Ring Road will move ahead as planned,” Ms Landry said.
In the May Federal Budget, no further funding had been allocated other than the $80 million early works package.
Ms Landry said Labor are out of touch with what it takes to build a nation and bring further prosperity to a region.
“Not once did the Treasurer mention the words rail, roads, dam, bridge agriculture or infrastructure in his May Budget speech. Yet, the Assistant Minister for Regional Development is more than happy to try claim credit for a project that was already in the works under the Coalition Government.
“I won’t stop fighting for the Albanese Government to make true on their promise pre-election that the Rockhampton Ring Road will be a certainty under their government and deliver on the funding for further stages of work,” Ms Landry said.
