MEDIA RELEASE 07 January 2025
Labor is finally following the Coalition’s commitment to restore 80 per cent federal funding to the Bruce
Highway.
Mr Wallace said while the Prime Minister’s announcement is welcome, years of cuts and delays by Labor
have cost lives, including 43 lives last year and two lives already this year.
“Too many tragedies have occurred under Labor’s watch, with years of crucial roadworks being delayed
because Labor was deaf to Queenslanders’ concerns about the priority of this dangerous highway,” Mr
Wallace continued.
Let’s not forget Labor’s previous $1.2 billion of cuts and delays to Bruce Highway upgrades which have
placed a roadblock on regional Queensland’s economic growth and put lives at risk. As well as Labor’s cuts
to funding of the Mooloolah River Interchange, which has resulted in the project being shelved, over 100
homes being demolished and hundreds of people being dislocated. More examples of this government’s
indecision and lack of commitment to critical infrastructure projects can be seen in their inconsistent
funding and constant delays, which have left communities in limbo and hindered progress across the state.
The Coalition’s $10 billion plan to upgrade the Bruce Highway was crucial for constructing bypasses,
overtaking lanes, and delivering safety improvements, which Labor had unfortunately also stalled until
close to an election.
Since 2016, Andrew Wallace has played a key role in securing over $900 million in upgrades to the Bruce
Highway between the Caloundra Road and Sunshine Motorway Interchanges, the region’s largest ever
infrastructure project. This upgrade has significantly improved safety and efficiency by expanding the
highway to six lanes and making major upgrades to both interchanges, benefiting local residents and
businesses.
The Coalition announced last September we would restore the historic 80 per cent funding for Bruce
Highway projects in the regions, which was stripped away by Labor.
Mr Wallace added, “Labor inherited from the Coalition a program of more than $10 billion of works to
upgrade and make the Bruce Highway safer but have continued to cut and delay projects since being
elected.”
In the Budget last year, the Prime Minister cut $488 million from the Bruce Highway funding over the next
four years.
“As a result of those cuts, $108.2 million less will be spent on Bruce Highway upgrades this financial year.
The question has to be asked of Labor given the importance of the Bruce Highway, why wasn’t it identified
as a priority for further funding following Labor’s infrastructure pipeline review in 2023? Why has it taken
two and a half years for the Prime Minister to start listening to community concerns about the Bruce
Highway?”
“It is thanks to the relentless campaigning from myself and my Coalition colleagues that has seen the
Albanese Government forced to backflip on funding cuts and restoration of the 80 per cent funding for the
Bruce Highway announcement,” Mr Wallace concluded.
[ENDS]
Media Contact: Brendan West
M | 0402 556 646
E | Brendan.west@aph.gov.au
