Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Multicultural Engagement) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can I say to Senator Brown that I'll always fight for the people of the Somerset region, and today I stand up for the people of the Somerset region in relation to the appalling state of the Brisbane Valley Highway. This is a highway rated in the top 10 worst roads in Queensland. The Brisbane Valley Highway is rated No. 4 on that list of the top 10 worst roads.

Last month I travelled the Brisbane Valley Highway in the rain, and during the course of that journey I felt how dangerous the Brisbane Valley Highway is in a number of spots. I felt truly uncomfortable and unsafe.

I spoke to one Somerset resident last month who told me about his experience on the Brisbane Valley Highway. This was a father with a young family, and he was telling me that, when he travels the Brisbane Valley Highway, his fatigue management system goes off, because he has to manoeuvre to try and find the best part of the road whilst he is driving his vehicle, and, because of that movement, his fatigue management system goes off. This is just not good enough. It's just not good enough.

I congratulate Mayor Jason Wendt and his council colleagues for their advocacy in relation to the Brisbane Valley Highway. I also congratulate my good friend Jim McDonald MP, the member for Lockyer; and the Hon. Deb Frecklington, member for Nanango, for delivering a $20 million commitment from the new Queensland LNP government to improve the Brisbane Valley Highway.

I use this opportunity now to call upon the Albanese Labor government to match that $20 million commitment from the LNP Queensland state government. There's a budget coming up, and I'm calling upon the Albanese Labor government to match the LNP state government's commitment of $20 million to improve the Brisbane Valley Highway. If the Albanese Labor government cares about the people of the Somerset region, if it cares about their road safety and their ability and opportunity to travel around their region in safety, then it should match the Queensland LNP government's $20 million commitment to the Brisbane Valley Highway. Match that $20 million and fix this road.

Senate adjourned at 17:51