FEDERAL Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox has welcomed the Albanese Government’s recent announcement to formally pledge $7.2bn to fix the notoriously dangerous Bruce Highway.
In 2023, Labor cut the 80-20 funding model to regional Bruce Highway projects to 50-50, making many of the upgrades unaffordable to the Queensland State Government.
After a strong campaign by the newly elected LNP Queensland Government to deliver a safer Bruce for regional Queensland, the Federal Government announced it would reinstate the funding split.
“Tragically, it has taken the loss of too many lives, and the worst highway safety rating between Mackay and Townsville, to get this commitment on the table,” Mr Willcox said.
“I have led the way and put pressure on the Albanese Government with my ‘Back Our Bruce’ campaign, which gained thousands of signatures from the community of Dawson.
“Let’s be clear, this 80-20 funding model is only for this $7bn commitment. A coalition government will fully reinstate the historical 80-20 funding for all highway funding.
“I led this fight, and was joined by my Coalition colleagues, as I knew we could not settle for a substandard and dangerous highway.
“But it’s not over yet. The next step is to see the details and ensure we get our fair share of the funding.
“I’m concerned this is just another Labor stunt to buy votes in the southeast corner.”
Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry agrees, welcoming the additional funding for urgent upgrades to the Bruce Highway, following her tireless campaign to address its alarming accident rate.
“This is a major win for every motorist who depends on the Bruce Highway,” Ms Landry said.
“I’ve worked tirelessly to ensure this government can no longer ignore the dangerous state of this vital road. Labor has turned its back on regional Australians for too long.”
However, Ms. Landry questioned why critical sections of the highway, such as the stretch from St Lawrence to Mackay, were excluded from priority upgrades, despite Koumala and Carmila being among the 15 most dangerous sections.
“While I welcome this funding, it is deeply disappointing that some of the most perilous areas continue to be overlooked,” she said.
“It’s clear the Prime Minister still doesn’t grasp the full scale of the problem.”
Ms Landry also slammed Labor for its history of neglecting the Bruce Highway, pointing to significant budget cuts.
“Labor inherited over $10bn worth of upgrades for the Bruce, yet slashed $488m from the forward estimates in their last budget, leaving critical work unfunded when it was most needed.
“This sudden cash injection reeks of an election stunt rather than a genuine commitment to road safety.”
Ms Landry said the Coalition was committed to restoring the 80-20 funding model and ensuring every section of the Bruce Highway received the attention it deserves.
