Senate debates

Wednesday, 15 November 2017

Questions without Notice

Queensland: Infrastructure

2:43 pm

Photo of Murray WattMurray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Senator Scullin. How much is allocated in the federal government's forward estimates for the proposal of Queensland opposition leader, Mr Tim Nicholls, to build a second motorway at the Gold Coast in Queensland?

2:44 pm

Photo of Nigel ScullionNigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | | Hansard source

I don't have those details to hand. I'll just have to take them on notice.

Photo of Murray WattMurray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

What analysis has the federal government undertaken into the cost of building a second motorway at the Gold Coast?

Photo of Nigel ScullionNigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | | Hansard source

Again, I'll have to take those details on notice, but I can assure you that a cost-benefit analysis is done in line with us making an investment in all of these areas. As I said, I will have to get you the details, but that's our policy.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator Watt, a further supplementary question.

Photo of Murray WattMurray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Given the minister will not confirm the total cost of the Queensland opposition's proposal and will not confirm that the federal government will contribute $250 million to the project, as announced by Mr Nicholls, has the state Leader of the Opposition misled the voters of Queensland or is this just another example of the Queensland LNP being, to quote Senator Brandis, 'very, very mediocre'?

2:45 pm

Photo of Nigel ScullionNigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | | Hansard source

I don't think anybody in this place appreciates being verballed in that way. I was very clear in my answer that I will provide those details on notice, so I don't appreciate somebody verballing me by indicating my answer was quite to the contrary and that I'd indicated something quite different to that. I will take the answers to his questions on notice. As I said, I don't really appreciate some sort of implication from a question that I haven't been able to provide the answer to.