John McVeigh (Groom, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yesterday the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, along with the Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure, wrote to state premiers and infrastructure ministers to bring forward more projects in the interests of our economy given the challenges that have beset our nation over the last six months. I endorse those calls very strongly and I take the opportunity to remind the Queensland state government of Commonwealth funding that has already been secured for two specific road projects in our electorate of Groom. Funding for the much-needed upgrade to the Brimblecombe Road-Warrego Highway intersection between Kingsthorpe and Oakey was committed by the Commonwealth last year. This has been the site of numerous accidents, including a tragic double fatality in late 2018. Protected turning lanes are needed urgently.

The Commonwealth also committed funding last year to upgrade the entry to Borneo Barracks on the New England Highway at Cabarlah, home of the army's deployable electronic warfare unit. Works are needed to improve safe entry and exit of oversized military vehicles or protected mobility vehicles, which are slower and heavier than civilian traffic, particularly in a part of the world where there is often fog and very heavy traffic in the mornings and afternoons.

The Queensland state government simply needs to get on with the job with these projects. Funding was committed well over 12 months ago.