Queensland’s Treasurer Curtis Pitt says Queenslanders will have their chance at the coming federal election to pass judgement on any attempt to short-change the state on infrastructure spending in tomorrow night’s Federal Budget.
“If NSW and Victoria receive the lion’s share of a suggested $5 billion for public transport infrastructure in the Federal Budget, then Queenslanders will have every right to feel drastically short-changed,” Mr. Pitt commented “On population share alone we would expect $1 billion of that amount and we have an essential major project in Cross River Rail that should be supported.”
Mr. Pitt went on to point out that there seems to be no sound basis for federal allocations, with WA recently gifted $500 million for road projects and that was not tied to asset sales. Pitt went on to add that if the Budget allocations for infrastructure are to reward states engaging in asset sales, then Queensland voters will make their views known at the coming federal poll.
“Voters spoke clearly at the January 2015 state election on asset sales. Queensland should not be penalised for the simple fact that the Palaszczuk Government is keeping its election commitment not to sell our revenue-generating government-owned corporations.” Mr. Pitt commented “Scott Morrison has a clear choice — either he allocates a fair share of federal infrastructure funds to Queensland in tomorrow night’s Federal Budget or he abandons our state. If we are short-changed then every Queenslander will not have to wait long to tell him and the Prime Minister how they feel about being starved of their fair share of funds for essential projects,” Pitt added