Luke Howarth (Petrie, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on local infrastructure within the Petrie electorate. Over the past months, my commitment to, along with the people of Petrie, enhancing the quality of life for our community has translated into tangible improvements, particularly through the local councils. From the upgrades to our roads, we are witnessing a transformation that not only supports our growing population but also reflects my commitment, and the dedication of the people that I represent, to a vibrant, connected future.

Roads are generally constructed by the councils or by the state government. There is a stark contrast with what's happening there at the moment. The councils—both the Brisbane City Council and the City of Moreton Bay—are getting on with building, whereas the state government is doing a very poor job. I'll touch on that quickly. In my electorate, the areas that were just recently upgraded include Klingner Road. With the support of the City of Moreton Bay, the intersection of Klingner Road and Boardman Road at Kippa-Ring was recently upgraded. There were a few problems, with the workers hitting a gas line, but it's now completely done. Through the federal Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, we were able to secure, for this much-needed upgrade, some $4.8 million from the previous federal coalition government. This project was delayed significantly, but it was eventually done. So I want to thank the City of Moreton Bay for improving that roundabout into a signalised intersection.

For Kinsellas Road West at Mango Hill, funding was available through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program from the previous coalition government. We secured $250,000 to upgrade that, and construction is underway. For Flinders Parade at North Lakes, we secured $1.3 million. With the work of the City of Moreton Bay, we were able to upgrade Flinders Parade and Cook Court at North Lakes, which is a really busy intersection due to Costco and Bunnings being just down the road. In the Brisbane City Council area, Beams Road and Dorville Road works are now underway. Some years ago, we were able to secure $50 million in federal funding to give to council to get this done. It's a widening of roads.

But the big issue is the Labor state government in Queensland. They're absolutely pathetic and they're doing a really poor job. I'll tell you why. For years, we've been waiting on the Beams Road overpass to be done, the Linkfield Road overpass to be done, and the Gateway Motorway to be upgraded between St John Fisher College and the Pine River—all of that did not start until very recently. Just 10 weeks before a state election they're finally getting the Beams Road overpass going. We had the minister, Bart Mellish, and Stirling Hinchliffe putting up billboards prior to 2020 saying construction will start in 2021. It's now 2024—three years late—and they've just started it.

Not only that, we also have the Premier, who said nothing about the Dohles Rocks Road on and off ramps at Murrumba Downs and Griffin—nothing before 2020—but, 10 weeks out from a state election, he's finally on board, and that's just started. And 80 per cent of the funding for that came from the former federal coalition government.