Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

When I saw the member for Grayndler's motion I thought it was a joke. I thought he surely could not be serious given his own performance and the performance of this government.

Mr Albanese interjecting—

I know the member for Grayndler is doing it tough; I know he is not getting much airtime on that side of the fence; I know that is pretty hard for him. But he is actually not a bad bloke; he is just somewhat mistaken on many things! The Turnbull government is desperately planning for some terrific infrastructure projects—projects that the member for Grayndler did not deliver for the Sunshine Coast. The Turnbull government in September last year very proudly announced a $929 million upgrade for the Bruce Highway between Caloundra Road and Sunshine Motorway. On the Sunshine Coast, when I was driving to the airport on Sunday on my way here—I hope the member for Grayndler does not leave, because this is very important for him to hear—

Mr Albanese interjecting—

Please don't go, member for Grayndler; please stay! On my way to the airport, on a 110-kilometre-an-hour stretch of road, we ground to a measly speed of around 20 to 30 kilometres an hour. When the member for Grayndler was the infrastructure minister, what did he do for the Bruce Highway on the Sunshine Coast? Zip, nothing. Since the Turnbull government came to power, it has put $743 million into a $929 million program to increase the highway from four lanes to six lanes between Caloundra Road and Sunshine Motorway and provide brand-new interchanges at Caloundra Road and Sunshine Motorway. The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads tells me that, all up, 100 kilometres of road will be set up in that new section. These are very expensive works to be done, but they will be fantastic for the Sunshine Coast.

On top of that, the Treasurer announced in the budget another $650 million for upgrades to the Bruce Highway, south of Caloundra. All those opposite have gone very quiet all of a sudden. I understand why: they are embarrassed by the fact that this government is getting on with infrastructure, particularly in my home patch on the Sunshine Coast. I want to thank particularly the Minister for Urban Infrastructure, who is sitting in front of me here, and the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, because these two gentlemen have the led the way. They have been terrific leaders and proponents for infrastructure in the great state of Queensland. But we have not stopped there. On top of the $743 million that the government is putting in for the Bruce Highway upgrade—Caloundra Road to Sunshine Motorway—and on top of the $650 million upgrade for the Caloundra Road to Pine River Bruce Highway upgrade, we also have $182.6 million for critical safety upgrades and $180 million for the Nambour roundabout. That is $1.6 billion worth of critical infrastructure for my home patch on the Sunshine Coast.

But we understand that upgrading the Bruce Highway is not going to be the panacea for the people of the Sunshine Coast. That is why the government has provided a $10 billion national rail program—so the Queensland state government can bid for the North Coast rail duplication between Beerburrum and Nambour. It is very sad to see those opposite leaving as they hear these great stories about infrastructure. It is very upsetting to me and it will be upsetting to Sunshine Coast residents to see that the man who put this motion forward has departed the scene, because he knows that this government is absolutely rock-solid committed to providing infrastructure for the great state of Queensland, for this country and, in particular, for my home patch on the Sunshine Coast.

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