House debates

Monday, 19 October 2020

Statements by Members

Fisher Electorate: Roads

4:40 pm

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

Eighteen months ago I cycled around my electorate on my first 'Tour de Fisher' and I saw again how dangerous the Steve Irwin Way between Beerburrum and Palmview can be for motorists and particularly cyclists. Local residents at my many listening posts confirmed that something had to be done. I lobbied Minister Bailey, aka Blister Bailey, and the Queensland Labor government to fix this dangerous state government road for more than a year. They did nothing. So, instead, I had to turn to my colleagues in the Morrison government to step in and do state Labor's job in our region yet again. The Deputy Prime Minister came through for the coast and provided 80 per cent of the funding to finally build the safety improvements we needed. Thanks to the Morrison government's funding, the road will be widened, roadside hazards will be cleared and dedicated right-hand turn lanes will be installed.

Now that someone else has done all the heavy lifting, Blister Bailey was all too happy this week to put out a press release about the works without consultation with the federal government, who happen to be paying for 80 per cent of them. Whether it's the Steve Irwin Way, the Bells Creek Arterial Road or the duplication of the North Coast rail, that is what Blister Bailey and this hopeless Queensland Labor government are all about. You might be wondering why they call him Blister Bailey; it's because he comes out after all the hard work's been done.