Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That there be laid on the table by the Ministers representing the Minister for Industry, the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development and the Treasurer, no later than Wednesday, 1 October 2014, any documents held in relation to:

(a) funding sought by the Queensland Government, and/or any assessment of the priority of the Toowoomba Bypass project; and

(b) a review of the project by the Federal Government, and/or any correspondence between the Federal Government and Queensland State Government relating to a review of the infrastructure project.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Toowoomba second range crossing will be a vital new link on the national land freight network, and the coalition government has honoured its commitment and committed in the 2014 budget to fund 80 per cent of the construction costs. The Toowoomba second range crossing is the largest Australian government commitment to a single region road project in Queensland history. The people of Toowoomba and industry have been calling for the project. It is another example of the fact that this government is unashamedly focused on regional development.

The Commonwealth government negotiates final project details with states to ensure best value for taxpayers. Accordingly, the Commonwealth government has sought access to the funding model Queensland is using to test its financing assumptions for the project in order to settle the funding and financing arrangements between governments. Our request for information and discussion with Queensland about provision of that information is a normal part of project delivery processes. Information about the project is available on the project's Queensland website. As the project is currently in the market with the request for a proposal launched by the Queensland government, the government is not in a position to provide detailed financial or commercial information about the project. (Time expired)

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that Business of the Senate notice of motion No. 455 standing in the name of Senator Ludwig be agreed to.