Bruce Highway Funding Concerns

The Federal Government’s $7.2 billion pledge to upgrade the notoriously dangerous Bruce Highway has already hit its first set of potholes.

Federal Finance Minister, Katy Gallagher, contradicted the Prime Minister’s claim that funding will be delivered this year. Instead, the Finance Minister admitted the funding won’t be available until after the forward estimates, leaving the region of Dawson waiting until 2028 for crucial upgrades.

“The Prime Minister and the Finance Minister cannot both be correct. The Dawson community deserves to be told the truth,” Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, said.

“Some 43 lives have been lost on the Bruce Highway over the past year, and it feels like the Prime Minister was more focused on buying votes instead of getting to work and fixing the highway.

“It is time for the Prime Minister to come clean and release the full timing schedule for release of the promised Bruce Highway upgrade funds.

“I am also very concerned that one of the worst sections of highway in my electorate was not deemed a priority by the Albanese government. I will continue to fight for our fair share of funding to get the road fixed.” Mr Willcox said.

The Coalition has promised they will match the funding pledge and reinstate the 80:20 funding split with the State Government if elected, when Queenslanders go to the polls by May 2025.

Prime Minister vs Finance Minister on timing of $7.2 billion Bruce Highway funding: Wednesday 8 January 2025 – Finance Minister on ABC 7.30 Report:

Laura Tingle, 7.30 Report: “When was that [Bruce Highway] decision taken and will it actually involve any change in the budget bottom line?”

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher: “Well the costs for that will be reflected in the next budget update as they come into those forward estimate years. Um, so that decision was taken in the normal way through the Cabinet and our own internal processes, um, but it’s...

Tingle: “It’s included in the MYEFO bottom line at the moment?”

Gallagher: “Well the, I think the funding will be come outside of those forward estimates years, um, because it’s a long term project...”

Monday 6 January 2025 – PM interviewed on Radio 4BC:

Reporter: Prime Minister, we know the what, can you tell us the when?

Prime Minister Albanese: Good afternoon. Well, as soon as we can. The funding will be available from this year... we want this to be done as soon as possible, so the funding is available.

Monday 6 January 2025 – Prime Minister’s Press Conference, Gympie (announcing the funding):
Prime Minister: “...We had to get those measures in place and it's that discipline that we showed in those budgets that have allowed us to come to the position in MYEFO, we've provisioned for this.”

“So what is the truth?” asked Mr Willcox.

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Federal MP, Andrew Willcox inspects the Bruce Highway. Photo supplied

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