Bruce 'ignored' as Gillard goes west

The Newman Government has accused Prime Minister Julia Gillard of ignoring much-needed work to Queensland's major highway. Source: The Courier-Mail

THE Newman Government has accused Julia Gillard of ignoring the Bruce Highway after she offered $1 billion for a motorways network in western Sydney.

Ms Gillard's offer - part of the next major round of federal infrastructure funding known as Nation Building 2 - has been rebuffed by the NSW Government because it comes with too many conditions.

But the offer has sparked an outcry from Queensland Transport Minister Scott Emerson, who said he had been waiting for months on an answer from Canberra for a joint $5 billion upgrade to the Bruce Highway in the next decade.

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The state in October offered a $1 billion investment to be matched with $4 billion from the Federal Government under a typical 80/20 funding split.

"We presented our Bruce Highway Action Plan to the Federal Government in October but have yet to hear of any funding commitment from the Commonwealth," Mr Emerson said.

"The plan was undertaken by engineers, not politicians, and will provide a safer, more reliable Bruce Highway reducing the impact of flooding."

"Ms Gillard needs to commit to the safety of Queensland motorists, not just look after her own political fortunes."

The Federal Government is still negotiating the projects to be funded in the Nation Building 2 program, which would begin in mid 2014.

Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese's spokesman said the Bruce Highway would be included in the program, but the funding model had not been agreed.

The Federal Government has allocated $2.7 billion to the highway in the six years to mid 2014, compared with $1.3 billion spent over 12 years by the Howard government, he said.

Queensland councils have also complained they are missing out on funds as Ms Gillard concentrates on western Sydney.

Chairman of the Southeast Queensland Council of Mayors Graham Quirk said there were at least three infrastructure projects in this region with business cases.

"The Toowoomba second Range crossing, the Pacific Highway upgrade from Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes and the Cunningham Highway from Yamanto to Willowbank all have completed business cases and are key national highways projects," Cr Quirk said.

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