Shayne Neumann (Blair, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In parliament today I want to commend the Rudd Labor government for inserting $10 million into the Ipswich CBD revitalisation. This is the first major commitment by a federal government to the city of Ipswich for its CBD since Gough Whitlam’s day, when the Ipswich Civic Centre was first built.

I also want to mention the Ipswich City Council and the Queensland state government, who are working together with me and the people of Ipswich to develop an Ipswich regional centre strategy. This was endorsed by the Ipswich Centre Task Force on 15 February 2008. There are a number of milestones that have been achieved: 17 priority projects, 31 key strategies and 158 actions. Eight key revitalisation areas within the CBD have been identified, including the existing transit centre, the railway station and the Bell Street interchange, all of which will be upgraded. I commend Mayor Paul Pisasale, state member Rachel Nolan, the Deputy Premier and the Premier of Queensland for their commitment to Ipswich. I reaffirm my commitment to the people of Ipswich that I will work together with them to achieve this great outcome for the Ipswich centre, the traders and the people therein.