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

It is very interesting that the person who proposed this discussion is not here right now. He obviously does not have the courage of his convictions to hang around. He does not have the courage of his convictions to hear the truth. This side of the House is all about fairness. Over on that side, you think you have a licence on fairness. Well, I am here to tell you that you do not.

Just take for example what is going on in my seat of Fisher. Last night, the Treasurer announced $530 million for priority upgrades to the Bruce Highway in my seat of Fisher. I note that the member for Grayndler has come in this afternoon—the people's choice has come in this afternoon—to listen to the great infrastructure projects that are going on in Fisher, infrastructure projects that he did not deliver when he was the infrastructure minister. There is $530 million for upgrades to the Bruce Highway between Pine River and Caloundra roads, a fantastic result. There is another $120 million for an upgrade to the Deception Bay interchange. That is $650 million which is going to directly benefit my constituents. You did not do that when you were infrastructure minister, did you, Member for Grayndler? Not a chance.

There is another $182.6 million for safety upgrades up and down the Bruce Highway and another $4.9 million for local roads going to the Sunshine Coast Council. What this is going to result in is jobs, jobs and more jobs for Sunshine Coast locals, and it is going to mean that people will be able to get in their cars in Brisbane and drive up to the Sunshine Coast for the weekend without spending four hours in the car on the way home. It is a fantastic result for Sunshine Coast tourism and Sunshine Coast businesses.

But do you know what? We cannot start these works on the Bruce Highway until the state Labor government, the state Palaszczuk government, actually releases a planning study. The Palaszczuk government cannot provide this planning study, and we cannot start these works until that planning study has been done. We have called on the Palaszczuk government time and time again to get this planning study done. What has the result been? Nothing. Zip. Nada.

The next infrastructure project which is so important to Sunshine Coast locals is the $10 billion National Rail Program announced last night. This is a rail program that the state Labor government can bid for to upgrade and duplicate the rail line from Beerburrum to Nambour. The ball is now in the state Labor government's court to apply for this funding to build this rail. I am talking about the duplication of the North Coast railway line. I know it is north of Brisbane. I know that, living in Brisbane, it is a world that you cannot see. This is the North Coast railway line—the same line that you guys promised and failed to deliver time and time again. I am putting it fairly and squarely on the Palaszczuk government: come good. They should, because the people of the Sunshine Coast will never forgive them, now that they know that there is $10 billion in funding. It is now for them to bid for that $10 billion so my people—the people of the Sunshine Coast—can get access to that money.

But that is not all. The Treasurer announced last night a much smaller project with much smaller funding, but it is one that is very important. I know that everybody in this House would join with me on that. It is $5 million for the Thompson Institute for treatment and research into mental health. This is something that will save young people and help people with dementia. It will see research into suicide prevention.

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