Ken O'Dowd (Flynn, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I call on the government and all members to support the declaration that the Melbourne to Gladstone inland railway become a project of national significance and to intervene to provide the capital necessary to ensure this project is future-proofed by committing to the strategic link being a dual gauge railway with national links. I am passionate about the Port of Gladstone and its potential to become Australia’s most important transport hub. A dual-gauge railway will improve the productivity of the Port of Gladstone as a nationally significant logistics hub and will provide a vital boost to Gladstone and the hinterland towns in my electorate. It will be in the national interest.

However, the Queensland government in its incompetence will only support the railway if it is a narrow gauge—that is narrow-minded thinking. If the federal government does not step in, tenders will be called for a narrow-gauge railway and this will mean that Gladstone—Australia’s industrial powerhouse—will never be connected to the national rail system and its future as Australia’s major bulk freight port will never be realised. This will be a tragedy. I call on the government and everyone in this place to support this project being declared a project of national significance.