Steven Ciobo (Moncrieff, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am certainly pleased to rise in support of the motion moved by the member for Moreton. The motion effectively recognises the Howard government’s significant contribution to the people of south-east Queensland and the great need for funding for roads in Queensland’s south-east corner. We know that the south-east corner of Queensland is the fastest-growing area of our country, and we know that, as a consequence of this growth, residents there—particularly in the city of the Gold Coast—have a great and genuine need for additional road funding. I note in particular that the motion from the member for Moreton, seconded by the member for Blair, expresses concern over the unreliable project costings provided to the Howard government by the Queensland government, who seem completely unable to manage their costings appropriately.

As a consequence of the Beattie government’s blow-outs, we see the Australian government being expected, on a continual basis, to pick up the cost of these blow-outs. I listened with great interest to what the shadow minister had to say, because we know that the Beattie Labor government has primary carriage of funding for the road needs of Gold Coast city. So it is the Labor Party at state level that is responsible for improving infrastructure, in particular roads, in Gold Coast city. What did the shadow minister have to say about Gold Coast roads with respect to this motion—a motion that talks about south-east Queensland roads? What did the shadow Labor minister have to say about Gold Coast roads?

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