Labor matches government in Queensland infrastructure war

Nearby on the Bruce Highway, the opposition party has promised to upgrade the intersection between the Gateway Motorway and Dohles Rocks Road, and upgrade four feeder roads to take traffic off the highway.

It has also pledged $112 million for stage three of the Gold Coast’s light rail network, planned to run from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads.

This means Labor has matched most of the government’s known transport infrastructure promises to Queensland, including setting up a $500 million rural and regional roads fund.

It sets up a tense election campaign set to begin on Sunday, where funds can be drawn from campaign war chests to meet election transport promises.

The Coalition on Tuesday night announced a $500 million Commuter Car Park Fund – with “details to be provided soon”, after Opposition Leader Bill Shorten announced a $300 million National Park and Ride Fund in October 2018.

Labor has subsequently promised money to upgrade parking at Mango Hill, Narangba, Geebung and Northgate stations, while the Coalition on Tuesday night included money for parking at Mango Hill and Ferny Grove stations.

The Coalition also promised $85 million for Lindum rail station level crossing on Tuesday night in Ross Vasta’s seat of Bonner, which has a margin of 3.4 per cent, while Labor last Friday promised $73 million to upgrade Cooper’s Plains level crossing in Graham Perrett’s Labor-held electorate of Moreton, with a margin of 4 per cent.

The Coalition promised $25 million for Indooroopilly’s Moggill Road-Coonan Street intersection, which could open the door to a second Walter Taylor Bridge.

The RACQ on Friday said Labor had matched the Coalition’s wide-ranging infrastructure promises for Queensland.

RACQ's head of public policy Dr Rebecca Michael said Labor had matched the government’s Gateway and Bruce Highway promises as well as promises in regional Queensland.

“Funding has also been allocated to the Gateway Motorway and Bruce Highway, including a new bridge across the Pine River,” Dr Michael said.

“We’ve advocated for these upgrades to ensure the increasing traffic and freight demands to the north of Brisbane will be accommodated into the future.

“Regional Queensland was also not forgotten, as Labor promised upgrades for the central and northern sections of the Bruce Highway and matched several other regional commitments from the federal government.”

Federal Labor will fund $2.24 billion of Brisbane’s $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project, while the Coalition has refused to fund the project.

This provides a campaigning edge for Labo, working with a Labor state government.

However, the Coalition has overtly backed south-east Queensland’s emerging City Deal.

This is a tripartite funding-split concept that has growing support following deals announced for Townsville, Launceston, Western Sydney, Darwin, Hobart, Geelong, Adelaide and Perth.

In Brisbane on Friday, Mr Albanese promised to match the government’s plan to widen the Gateway Motorway but said Labor would complete the work in its first term.

Variations in federal education and TAFE policies and both parties' health campaigns will come into sharper focus as the federal election begins.