#qldvotes2017 LNP Policies

[ozbob]

From the Sunday Mail 15th January 2017 page 64

Traps with Peter Cameron

LNP toll road revival plan as traffic horror piles up

[#Metro]

Can the pollies focus on fixing the existing network please.

And if M1 congestion is the problem, toll it during peak. (Watch the pollies shoot that idea down ASAP).

We need CRR etc before extensions.

[ozbob]

@TimNichollsMP G'day Tim. Well said IMO!
I am glad you mentioned rail but it is more than that.
PT must be reorganised completely!#qldpol

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) February 17, 2017

[Gazza]

I dont mind a second road to the GC, if it is a toll.
The current set up of the M1, and the Causeway being the only Coomera river crossings is inefficient since it means the urban areas around upper Coomera follow an indirect path to get anywhere.

The GC line is nearly duplicated, and once they establish a HF local pattern then why not build a road.

Put a toll on it....if you want to avoid the M1 grind, pay up!



Ditto, im all for a Beaudesert corridor line....Id even advocate for a short spur as far as Acacia ridge or Algester, since that allows for network reconfiguration in those suburbs.

[ozbob]

http://www.timnicholls.com.au/4809-2/

LNP outlines plan to Build a Better Queensland

Opposition Media Releases

Mar 7th, 2017

    LNP Leader Tim Nicholls outlines LNP's plan to Build a Better Queensland at Queensland Media Club address today
    A future LNP Government will create jobs, build stronger families, deliver infrastructure, provide safe and reliable communities and deliver better government
    A future LNP Government will focus on  six economic key drivers to strengthen the Queensland economy – tourism, resources, agriculture, construction and manufacturing, education and services, science and technology

A future Liberal National Party Government will create jobs, build stronger families, build the roads, bridges and dams Queensland needs, provide safe and reliable communities across Queensland and deliver better government – not more government.

LNP Leader Tim Nicholls today outlined the LNP's plan to Build a Better Queensland during an address at the Queensland Media Club today.

"When I was 12 my parents moved our family to Queensland because they saw a state that offered great opportunity – a state not hamstrung by rules and regulations," Mr Nicholls said.

"Unfortunately after years of Labor Governments, this spirit has slipped away. Things seem to take forever to get done while costing more, and no one seems to be able to explain why.

"I love Queensland and I'm ready to lead – to make sure our great state grows and prospers once again.

"An LNP Government will reopen the State for business, to help create the wealth and jobs for this generation and those to come.

"The LNP recognises that the six key drivers of the Queensland economy are tourism, resources, agriculture, construction and manufacturing, education and services, science and technology – and we will be announcing policies around these areas very soon.

"We know that without a strong economy, Government will not have the money to realise our ambition.

"An LNP Government will also build stronger families and provide safe and liveable communities across Queensland by restoring police powers that have been stripped away by Labor.

"We will give police the necessary laws to move drugs like ice out of our communities and organised crime out of Queensland, after Annastacia Palaszczuk invited bikie gangs back in.

"We will build the roads and bridges this state so desperately needs – and dams to boost agricultural production and provide water security.

Mr Nicholls said the LNP team had learned a hard lesson from the past, having moved too quickly and failing to take Queenslanders on the journey when last in Government.

"After almost 20 years out of office, there was an urgency to get things done – and there's no doubt we had major problems to solve – but I will not be wasting the lessons learnt from those days," he said.

"What's clear to Queenslanders is that the Annastacia Palaszczuk experiment has failed and her wait-and-see, review-not-do approach is pushing Queensland further behind than ever.

"Under my leadership, a Liberal Nation Government won't stand for stagnation – we'll put Queenslanders first and get on with the job.

"The choice is clear – the LNP is a team with enthusiasm, experience and energy – a team committed to five clear priorities to build a Better Queensland – a team with a clear six-point economic plan for jobs, jobs, jobs.

"Together, we will be a common-sense Government that listens, plans and acts to Build a Better Queensland."

An LNP Government will focus on five key priorities to build a better Queensland:

    Create jobs across Queensland and better manage our finances
    Build stronger families
    Provide safe and liveable communities
    Build the roads, bridges and dams we need and
    Deliver better government – not more government.

An LNP Government will reduce the risk to our economic security by focusing on six drivers to strengthen and diversify the Queensland economy. The six drivers are:

    Tourism
    Agriculture
    Resources
    Construction and Manufacturing and
    Services, Science and Technology and
    Education

[SurfRail]

No mention of public transport.  Pathetic.

[techblitz]

manufacturing.......gimme a break...the fact that they ordered trains from india pretty much nails that shut.........its cheaper to manufacture overseas and its cheaper to import short supplied skills from overseas instead of spending the money/time to train locals......agriculture??...has he ventured out into rural qld yet? Seen how many farmers are doing it tough?....they have been left high and dry with few options but to sell the farm to overseas investors.....and then there is the timely threat to the local prawn industry...
Nicholls must think we were born yesterday....the only 3 things that will bring qld back will be property,science & tech and tourism......resources is tied completely to china/india so his guess is as good as mine.......he can rule out agriculture/manufacturing altogether....leave that for Pauline to clean up.....

[ozbob]

No mention of public transport.  Pathetic.

YO or rail..

More nonsensical spin

[techblitz]

definitely a substandard release....6 key focuses with pretty much no concrete examples of how they expect to achieve it...

[SurfRail]

At least it has 2 more economic pillars than last time.

[Stillwater]

It sounds like the sort of vacuous stuff you get in an election television ad.  You know the one - smiling Tim, tie off, but smart jacket on, on the other side of a timber desk, very tidy; rows of legal books and a couple of gifts from visiting dignitaries on the shelves (model plane, a very fast train model set from the crowd from China who visited last year, next to the picture of the Queen) .... Queensland flag draped in the corner.... trying to look sincere and reading his speech at the Media Club from a teleprompter.

"I love Queensland and I'm ready to lead – to make sure our great state grows and prospers once again."

LET'S MAKE QUEENSLAND GREAT AGAIN!

[BrizCommuter]

Is Tim Nicholls Out of Touch?
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2017/03/is-tim-nicholls-out-of-touch.html
Well, we all know the answer!

[ozbob]

Tim < 

BrizCommuter:
Is Tim Nicholls @TimNichollsMP Out of Touch?
> https://t.co/yqHNKMq9eJ#qldpol #qldvotes@LNPQLD @QLDLabor @QldGreens pic.twitter.com/IYN2LszWpI

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) March 7, 2017

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

8th March 2017

Public Transport matters: Is Tim Nicholls Out of Touch?

http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2017/03/is-tim-nicholls-out-of-touch.html


Tim Nicholls MP - Out of Touch?

BrizCommuter was recently delighted to see the LNP Brisbane City Council refining the Brisbane Metro design to something more sensible - Bus Rapid Transit. It was also good news, that Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, and Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner have been quoted as finally supporting Cross River Rail, which the Brisbane Metro will connect with and complement. The LNP Federal Government have also recently stated (whilst playing tit-for-tat politics) that Cross River Rail needed to have better integration between Brisbane Metro. Well now it does, both systems are looking a bit more likely. Even car lobby group RACQ is highly supportive of Cross River Rail, stating that it is Queensland's number one infrastructure project. So what are the views of LNP Leader of the Opposition Tim Nicholls MP?

Unfortunately, it seems that Tim hasn't quite got the memo that Brisbane and SE Queensland is well and truly screwed with coping with future population growth, if it doesn't build Cross River Rail. He has recently been quoted as saying:

"the Cross River Rail project had been "hopelessly stalled" under the Palaszczuk government"

Hey Tim, didn't, the LNP Newman Government (for which you were the Deputy Premier), delay Cross River Rail by years, by scrapping it for the flawed BaT Tunnel design, for which sources have since been quoted as saying "would never happen"?

"The Metro solves a current infrastructure bottleneck while the cross river rail seeks to address a bottleneck that 'may' occur in 2026." 

Hey Tim, maybe patronage would have been better if under the awful LNP Newman Government (for which you were the Deputy Premier), the following hadn't occurred:

    Increase in public transport fares by 10%, and failed to review the fare structure?
    Delayed the opening of Moreton Bay Rail Link due to the purchase incompatible signalling?
    Delayed and screwed up the design of Indian built New Generation Rollingstock trains?
    Stopped QR from hiring new staff, and demoted driver trainers, resulting in Rail Fail?
    Failed to implement bus network reform?
    Put many public transport users out of jobs?

So Mr Nicholls - what are your policies?

    How do you expect Brisbane to compete with other Oceania cities (such as Auckland, Perth, Sydney,  Melbourne, and Wellington) which have far better public transport? Build more financially disastrous road tunnels?
    How do you expect train lines to be built to new towns such as Greater Flagstone when there isn't enough core network capacity? Force people onto already congested roads?
    Or are you anti-Cross River Rail, because you can't admit the the BaT Tunnel was severely flawed and half-arsed?
    Are you completely blind to the fact that Brisbane's least frequent train line (Doomben Line) runs through your Clayfield constituency, and that it could have been more usefully extended to Northshore Hamilton?
    Do you want Brisbane to continue to be only developed city in the world that actively promotes car use as if it is still the 1960s?

Please tell us Tim? Anyone there?

[ozbob]

Newman hits back after Nicholls says former premier broke Queenslanders&#39; trust > https://t.co/NRvBqdKqG8 v @brisbanetimes #qldpol hey ho ..

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) March 7, 2017

[ozbob]

Nine News --> Queensland Opposition unveils taxi plan

Queensland's Liberal National Party opposition will establish an independent commissioner to oversee both taxis and the ridesharing industry if elected to government.

The commissioner would act as an industry ombudsman, and be responsible for recommending safety requirements including CTP insurance, safety cameras, vehicle identification, licensing and registration.

The commissioner would have authority over both ridesharing services and the taxi industry, and the party hopes the move will lower fares across the personal transport sector.

Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/national/2017/04/10/10/54/queensland-opposition-unveils-taxi-plan#w2pWE4y2rv4aOLj0.99

[ozbob]

TCQ has strongly endorsed the policy around personalised transport announced today by the @LNPQLD @TimNichollsMP @AndrewPowellMP

— Taxi Council QLD (@TaxiQLD) April 9, 2017

[ozbob]

10th April 2017

Media Release
Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports and Minister for Energy, Biofuels and Water Supply
The Honourable Mark Bailey

LNP's plan on taxis and ridesharing raises more questions

Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Mark Bailey says the LNP announcement today on taxis and ridesharing is effectively what the Palaszczuk Government is already doing.

Mr Bailey said the LNP had failed for years to demonstrate any sort of vision for the industry and after seven months, the best they can come up with, is a two page pamphlet that raises more questions than it answers.

"We're flattered the Opposition have taken the time to read our policy documents and borrow them for this announcement, but it falls short of any real substance," Mr Bailey said.

"The only difference is they've proposed an 'Independent Commissioner' function but how can they be independent if they sit within the department?

"How will they be resourced or be any different than existing functions within the Department?

"What is the LNP's position on security cameras for ride booking services and will they licence ride booking operators?

"Will the LNP rule out introducing a levy on ride booking services?

"You need more than two pages of high level statements to provide certainty to industry."

Mr Bailey said the Palaszczuk Government has had our policy on the table since August 2016 and most recently introduced the second stage of legislation which is currently being considered by the parliamentary committee.

"The Palaszczuk Government has been clear and consultative from the beginning. The LNP's proposed Ministerial Council is just a rebadge of the Palaszczuk Government's Personalised Transport Industry Reference Group which has been meeting regularly since October last year," he said.

"We're committed to supporting the personalised transport industry as it transitions during this period of adjustment and is committed to working through the policy challenges in a consultative manner.

"By reforming the personalised transport industry we will make it more responsive, competitive and able to new technological changes. In doing this, we will help ensure its future viability."

ENDS

[SteelPan]

5c per liter for 10yrs [into a designated road funding a/c - sunset clause in the legislation]

time to put the "big boy" pants on....our state's major roads are not now, let alone down the track, going to cope!

5c per liter for 10yrs

low taxes mean poor infrastructure!

[ozbob]

http://www.timnicholls.com.au/pse/

LNP Plan to build a Public Service of Excellence

    Best and brightest public servants to be given opportunity to upskill
    All appointments to be merit and performance based
    Gender and diversity targets to be set for senior levels
    Exchange and secondment program to be implemented with private sector
    No forced redundancies with Public Service to be more focused on outcomes

A Tim Nicholls-led Liberal National Government would implement a comprehensive plan to improve engagement and service delivery for the Queensland public service as part of our plan to Build a Better Queensland.

Mr Nicholls today launched the LNP's plan to empower public servants with the training, skills and leadership to deliver better outcomes for Queenslanders.

"We need to get better bang for buck for Queensland's public service. We believe the best way of doing that is to improve engagement and service delivery," Mr Nicholls said.

"An engaged workforce is a highly productive workforce that obtains the best results but, as shown in the Working for Queensland survey, less than half of employees believe the organisation is well managed.

"We believe the best way to engage public service employees is to better equip our leaders and to provide employees with the skills and opportunities they need to advance their careers. A more engaged, inclusive and diverse workforce leads to better decision making and higher levels of productivity and performance."

Mr Nicholls also categorically ruled out any forced redundancies and said the public service would be held more accountable to deliver outcomes under a future LNP Government.

"The LNP is focused on streamlining processes and ensuring public servants spend less time dealing with bureaucratic red tape and can spend more time delivering outcomes for Queenslanders," he said.

A Tim Nicholls-led LNP Government will deliver a more flexible and engaging public service to deliver better outcomes for Queenslanders by:

    Establishing a Leaders of Tomorrow program;
    Creating a 10-year target to increase the proportion of women in senior leadership roles to 50 per cent and double the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in senior leadership roles;
    Engaging an advisory committee, including non-government representatives, to investigate and look at ways of increasing representation for other equal opportunity groups, including people with a disability and people from non-English speaking backgrounds;
    Signing formal agreements with private sector, non-government and other public sector agencies to allow for more secondment and exchange programs.

LNP Deputy Leader Deb Frecklington said all appointments and future opportunities offered under the Public Service of Excellence program would be subject to a merit-based selection process.

"Every year a select number of high-potential leaders in the Queensland public service will be given the opportunity to build their skill set through the Leaders of Tomorrow program," Ms Frecklington said.

"The program will offer a number of development options tailored to the individuals in the program.

"Opportunities include education activities, coaching, mentoring, networking opportunities, secondments and other on-the-job exposure."

Mr Nicholls said committing to a gender target made economic sense.

"Women occupy fewer than 36 per cent of senior executive positions in the Queensland public service1, despite making up two-thirds of the total public service," he said.

"A growing body of research shows that organisations with greater gender equality perform better, that more women in leadership roles are associated with better performance and that gender equality promotes an environment where innovation can flourish.

"Economic modelling undertaken by Deloitte Access Economics shows that gender equality on boards would improve the productivity of the Queensland economy by $87 million (Deloitte Access Economics Queensland Business Outlook December 2016).

"If we are to have a better-performing and more engaged public service it's critical we seek to close the gender gap in management positions."

Mr Nicholls said a diversity target was necessary to properly set about a culture of change in the Queensland public service.

Ref 1: September quarter 2016 Workforce Statistics

Click here to view the LNP's Plan to Empower Public Servants with the Training, Skills and Leadership to Better Deliver for Queenslanders

[Stillwater]

I hope a journo asks the LNP whether they will have a PT policy.  They don't have to reveal the policy now, or say what's in it, just that they will have one.

[ozbob]

Couriemail --> Queensland Opposition makes bid for bullet train proposal

A BULLET train connecting the Gold Coast to Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay could be on the cards for Queensland.

As the Palaszczuk Government ramps up its campaign against the Commonwealth for failing to commit further funds to its $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project in last week's Federal Budget, Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls has written to the Prime Minister asking him to consider another rail project for the state – a very fast train.

It is the latest salvo in the war to win over the hearts and minds of Queensland commuters, although how much it would cost taxpayers is uncertain.

The LNP Opposition hopes it can secure some Federal cash should it win government to develop a business case for the project.

"The Australian Government's $20 million Faster Rail Initiative creates an exciting opportunity for southeast Queensland," Mr Nicholls and his deputy Deb Frecklington wrote in a letter to Mr Turnbull seeking a slice of the funds.

"We seek the Australian Government's support for business case funding through this initiative for a Very Fast Train linking the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay."

As #qldvotes get near we see the ' raining rail ' effect happening.  This is designed to counter PHON as much as anything.

Tim, all been promised before in various guises.  A jurisdiction that is struggling to get suburban rail running right and cannot even manage simple tasks such as bus network reform, we are not that overly optimistic.

Discussion Regional Rapid Rail > https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12393.msg192460#msg192460

[ozbob]

The LNP&#39;s Very Fast Train Policy - pulled directly from an episode of Utopia 😂😂 #qldpol https://t.co/rE3Yuflj6p

— Jackie Trad (@jackietrad) May 15, 2017

[techblitz]

This is designed to counter PHON as much as anything.

doesn't matter what level....state or federal...they are all trying to counter O.N because they realise how much support she is drumming up.....her FB page just surpassed 200k likes.....she passed the 100k while campaigning at last fed election if that's any guide...
This all comes down to how many people can see through the political games...

[ozbob]

http://www.betterqueensland.org.au/beep

Brisbane Entertainment and Education Precinct

A Tim Nicholls-led Liberal National Government will make Brisbane a more attractive investment and tourist location by facilitating a new entertainment and education precinct.
The Problem

Brisbane needs a world-class, city-based arena for shows, indoor sporting matches and visiting spectaculars along with another city-based university campus. Currently, arena spectaculars and live shows use non-purpose built stadiums or venues a significant distance from the city centre.

Brisbane should be a thriving, modern city at all times. Labor's on-again, off-again lockout laws damaged our reputation as a world-class city and Brisbane needs a project that will help it become Australia's cultural and events capital.

A purpose-built entertainment and education hub located in the CBD would complement the Queens Wharf Development, together with the cultural and arts precinct at South Bank and Suncorp Stadium. The Brisbane Entertainment and Education Precinct (B.E.E.P) would deliver integrated links between these important spaces to create a truly modern and strategically linked city.

Queensland is crying out for innovative, private sector-led proposals like B.E.E.P. Under Labor these projects have stalled. Labor's Market-Led Proposals framework has delivered just one project in two years and boasts a success rate of less than one per cent.
Our Record

In government, the LNP worked with the private sector to deliver important, transformative projects like the:

    Queens Wharf Development
    $1.8 billion Sunshine Coast University Hospital
    $10 billion Bruce Highway Action Plan
    Toowoomba Second Range Crossing in partnership with Nexus Infrastructure, and
    10 new schools built and delivered in high-growth areas in partnership with the Plenary Schools Consortium.

Working with the private sector, government can unlock value and deliver a new experience and asset base for Queenslanders which generates more economic investment, activity and most importantly up to 7,750 jobs.
Our Real Plan

A Tim Nicholls-led LNP Government will grant AEG Ogden and their partners an exclusive mandate to develop what they refer to as the 'Brisbane Live' project.

The LNP's vision for this project includes a new university campus, a 17,000 seat arena, film and production studios, a world-class public square, a new commercial and residential precinct, 12 hectares of new public space, a health hub and new pedestrian access to other entertainment spaces in Brisbane City.

The LNP will work with AEG Ogden and their partners to facilitate the delivery of this transformative project through our supercharged Market-Led Proposals (MLP) policy. While private sector proposals have stalled under Labor's failing MLP framework, the LNP will work to make them a reality.

The LNP will make B.E.E.P a Priority Development Area.

It's estimated this $2.5 billion project could deliver up to 7,750 jobs during construction.

The ongoing benefits of B.E.E.P for students, entertainers, catering businesses, film and production industries, construction firms, visitors to Brisbane and the thousands of other businesses that will service the new precinct will last for decades to come.

The LNP will work to deliver the Brisbane Entertainment and Education Precinct through our supercharged Market-Led Proposals policy so we can create jobs and build a better Queensland.

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> 320kmh Coast bullet train a 'pie in the sky' with potential

LONG-time Sunshine Coast rail advocate Jeff Addison believes talk of a bullet train linking the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay is just fanciful dreaming.

He thought the idea of a fast train connecting the regions was "totally unrealistic", given the current state of the existing North Coast train line and attempts to have it duplicated.

"We're on the third business case with the current rail duplication," Mr Addison said in response to State Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls writing to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull seeking a slice of $20 million in funding to develop a bullet train business case.

"It's hard to give credence to it."

Mr Nicholls and his deputy, Deb Frecklington, wrote to Mr Turnbull seeking a share of the 2017-18 Budget's Faster Rail Initiative, which will provide $20 million for three business cases for faster rail connections between major cities and regional centres.

Mr Addison, a spokesman for RAIL Back On Track, has been an avid campaigner for duplication of the North Coast line along 39km from Beerburrum-Nambour, to boost freight capacity on the North Coast Line and increase passenger services for Coast commuters to and from Brisbane.

Building Queensland has completed a detailed business case on the duplication and has proposed to duplicate a 20km stretch of the line, from Beerburrum-Landsborough.

Mr Addison was disappointed the business case had failed to address the main bottleneck on the line, along the most windy stretch between Landsborough and Nambour, but was expecting some sort of commitment to the about-$780 million project in the next State Budget.

He didn't foresee fast trains servicing the Coast any time within the next 50 years.

Sunshine Coast Business Council chairwoman Sandy Zubrinich said a fast train could benefit the region in future, but noted the need for rail line duplication from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast.

"We ought to take anything we can for good projects, but we need more information," Ms Zubrinich said.

Architect and urban futurist Phillip Daffara, director of design consultancy Future Sense, supported development of a fast rail business case, believing the benefits it would bring made it a "no-brainer".

But he said a number of factors, including population density, would have to be considered.

He noted a similar sized stretch in Japan, from Osaka-Nagoya, had bullet trains running every 15 minutes, but serviced a population of about 60 million people.

He said the Gold Coast-Wide Bay regions were set to grow to only 2.7 million people by 2021.

"To have big infrastructure you do need to have an appropriate population to support it," he said.

Mr Daffara estimated trains would have to be able to travel 240kmh-320kmh from the Gold Coast through to Wide Bay to make it attractive, and added Brisbane's Cross-River Rail was an element that had to be in place before the fast rail rolled out.

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Nicholls promises to fix the rail chaos

TIM Nicholls has declared that he will be a Premier with a focus on making the trains run on time if the LNP should win office at the next election.

The QT spoke to Mr Nicholls before Wednesday night's rail debacle that left thousands of passengers stranded on south-east Queensland lines.

The QT told Mr Nicholls Ipswich people were sick of the failures of the public transport system and rail in particular and asked whether he would be focussed on getting it right.

"Absolutely," he said. "Getting the trains to run on time and to be reliable and to provide the services people need is absolutely our focus. When we were in government we got the train reliability up to 96%. When we came to government it was sitting at around 88%.

"So we got the trains running, had enough drivers and delivered the services... and in a growing area like Ipswich, which is going to see population continue to increase, you need to have the facilities to give those public transport users the opportunity to travel."

Bundamba MP Jo-Ann Miller said recently in her budget reply speech she would like to see funds spent on extending the railway line from Springfield to Redbank Plains.

Mr Nicholls said he was not opposed to the idea, but added the entire rail network needed fixing and he would ensure that occurred.

"I know Jo-Ann Miller has made that call in relation to that and it is something we will certainly look at and investigate as to whether it stacks up in the sense of the number of passengers that are going to use it on a regular basis ," he said.

"But the greater priority is to make sure the trains are running on time and that we have enough drivers running on time.

"At the moment we don't have that. We have a Labor Party that is very much inner Brisbane centric with a (plan to allocate ) $4.5 million to $ 5 million for a 10 kilometre cross-city rail system that...we are not sure really stacks up."

There are numerous infrastructure projects that will require joint funding in the years ahead in the Ipswich region.

These include projects such as the $350 million Yamanto to Ebenezer/Amberley upgrade of the Cunningham Hwy involving 4.75km of work between Warwick Rd, Amberley and Ebenezer Creek, a notorious stretch of road known as an accident hotspot.

The upgrade includes the Amberley Interchange and an upgrade of the intersection of the Ipswich-Rosewood Rd which is a car park in peak times in the morning and afternoons.

Preliminary modelling suggests the congestion is costing the economy $45 million each year.

Mr Nicholls said Ipswich people and those in the region deserved suitable infrastructure and that he would be a champion for ensuring it was delivered.

"I think the things that are going to be important for people in Ipswich are jobs and making sure there is investment in the roads that are necessary so that people can travel ," he said.

"We know that commerce and business all needs good connections between our regional cities and we need to make sure that Ipswich remains connected to Brisbane, to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast so that people don't spend time sitting in their cars waiting to get home, waiting to get to work and waiting to get to holidays."

Mr Nicholls said "making sure Ipswich has a strong and vibrant education sector" was important to him.

"We want our kids in all of our schools to have the best education to give them the best opportunities possible," he said.

He said he was determined to work with local government to also deliver on the services that were needed in regional centres.

He said that would include "working with local councils like the Scenic Rim council and Ipswich council, in whatever form that may take in the near future, to deliver the services on the ground that people want".

"The issues around transport and public transport are key issues and providing more and better health services in the West Moreton area are also important issues," he said.

"We know there is a new Mater Hospital going up in the new seat of Jordan in Springfield. As population grows and we see growth in places like Flagstone and Yarrabilba we are going to need to do things to fix Mt Lindesay Hwy, so they are all projects we are going to have to look very closely at."

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/880904876250628096

[#Metro]

^ Oh look, a Blue Team Policy. Wow. First one??

Unfortunately, he hasn't said how. And casting CRR as an inner city project is just dumb and deliberate as is casting doubt over its viability.

They should just support CRR - there's no votes in opposing it, and lots of votes in supporting it.

Unless they want to unveil BaT II, which is what I suspect, or maybe it is upgraded signalling only.

[ozbob]

My gut feeling is that the LNP will just focus on the ATP (ETCS L2 or better) and other changes to operational patterns.  They have form in this regard:  7 car trains, terminating South Brisbane services and so forth.

CRR is needed for the future of public transport not only in Brisbane but SEQ as well.  It could be a very costly strategy to not support CRR.  I therefore expect a ' deferral policy '.  BaT is dead.  Even the LNP has sh%t-canned that of recent times.  It is bi-artics and CRR.

I hope we can have trams back in the Brisbane River again, I really do like that notion    .. 

[Stillwater]

Mr Nicholls' words have been fed through the polliespeak translator and here is what it reveals.

Mr Nicholls: "I know Jo-Ann Miller has made that call in relation to that (rail extension to Redbank Plans) and it is something we will certainly look at and investigate as to whether it stacks up in the sense of the number of passengers that are going to use it on a regular basis."

Translation: An LNP Government won't be building it.

Mr Nicholls: "We have a Labor Party that is very much inner Brisbane centric with a (plan to allocate ) $4.5 million to $ 5 million for a 10 kilometre cross-city rail system that...we are not sure really stacks up."

Translation: "While CRR is a good idea, we won't be in a rush to build it, and certainly not in the timeframe Labor proposes."

Mr Nicholls: "There are numerous infrastructure projects that will require joint funding in the years ahead in the Ipswich region."

Translation: "The money Labor has allocated to CRR, we want to spend on projects in marginal seats we hope to win at the next election.  The LNP won't be funding these 100 per cent, they will be PPP projects.  That way we can spread the available dollars around, making it look as though we are funding lots of things, but only to about 50 per cent.  We are speaking to the tooth fairy about the remaining costs."

These include projects such as the $350 million Yamanto to Ebenezer/Amberley upgrade of the Cunningham Hwy involving 4.75km of work between Warwick Rd, Amberley and Ebenezer Creek, a notorious stretch of road known as an accident hotspot.

Mr Nicholls: "I think the things that are going to be important for people in Ipswich are jobs and making sure there is investment in the roads that are necessary so that people can travel."

Translation: "The LNP will be focussing its spending on roads, not rail."

Mr Nicholls: "We know that commerce and business all needs good connections between our regional cities and we need to make sure that Ipswich remains connected to Brisbane, to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast so that people don't spend time sitting in their cars waiting to get home, waiting to get to work and waiting to get to holidays."

Translation: "The LNP wants people to continue to use their cars, we just want those cars to go faster on freeways such as the Bruce Highway, the M1, the Maroochydore Interchange, the Mt Lindesay Highway and a few places up north where we hope to win a couple of seats."

[ozbob]

Not much of a choice is it, dumb and dumber ...

[achiruel]

Nicholls' position on CRR sounds to me more like "we're too daft to realise the importance of CRR to the entire SEQ rail network."

[Stillwater]

Andrew Powell will AGAIN go to the voters, saying: "Vote for me and I will get you the SCL duplication."  That would be about the third time he would have tried that one on.  The promise is getting a bit thin.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> $1b architectural "icon" to be built along river at South Brisbane if LNP win next state election

A $1 BILLION "architectural icon" created through an Opera House-style design competition would be built along the Brisbane River at South Brisbane should the LNP win the next state election.

The Tim Nicholls-led Liberal National Party will today unveil its plan for a "once in a generation" icon and tourist destination housing a natural-history museum and aquarium.

Partly inspired by San Francisco's California Academy of Sciences, the Queensland Academy of Sciences project would serve dual purposes as both a research facility and tourist attraction.

Mr Nicholls pledged work would begin on a concept design and business case within 100 days of an LNP election win, with the project to be built on the Parmalat site overlooking the river.

It would cost about $1 billion and create 2600 jobs during construction.

Mr Nicholls said an LNP Government would allocate a $20 million kickstart to fund the worldwide design competition, design phase and business case.

"This will be world class," Mr Nicholls said.

"We want this to be a destination like no other. Given Queensland is home to the Great Barrier Reef, we want the aquarium to be one of the most advanced of its type in the world."

LNP spokeswoman for science and innovation Tarnya Smith likened the design contest to the famous 1956 competition that led to the controversial design of Sydney's Opera House.

" world class " < here we go again.

How about ' fixing the trains first '  ...   

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TimNichollsMP/status/883860387816382465

https://twitter.com/TimNichollsMP/status/883860263807590400

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/883872131083194368

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Queensland's LNP opposition promises $1b science academy in Brisbane

Queensland's Liberal National Party opposition is promising to build a world- class natural history museum and aquarium on the banks of the Brisbane River if they win the upcoming state election.

In an announcement on Sunday, LNP leader Tim Nicholls pledged work would begin on the $1 billion "once in a generation" tourism project within 100 days of taking power.

Mr Nicholls says more than 2600 jobs would be created in building the Queensland Academy of Sciences - to be developed through an international design competition like that which saw the creation of the Sydney Opera House in 1956. It would be developed on the Parmalat site at South Brisbane which is at the southern end of the Kurilpa Bridge and near GOMA (the Gallery of Modern Art).

The LNP plans for the project - modelled on the California Academy of Sciences - to house the natural history museum, aquarium, a living forest, science displays and research and educational facilities.

"This will be world class," Mr Nicholls said in a statement.

"We want this to be a destination like no other and a must-see for tourists across the world.

"Given Queensland is home to the Great Barrier Reef, we want the aquarium to be one of the most advanced of its type in the world."

Shadow minister for science and innovation Tarnya Smith said the opposition would call for proposals within the first 100 days of forming government.

"Just like the Opera House, we will conduct an international design competition to ensure we truly get an architectural icon," she said.

The next state election is due by May but the minority Labor government has been widely tipped to call the poll for October or November.

[Stillwater]

A focus on the grand stuff, to attract the most attention .... will take years to build.  Mr Nicholls hasn't said what taxes the LNP will levy to raise $1 billion in order to build the thing.  Will that be on top of the giant stadium to be built over Roma Street?  How much will be put into that from state coffers?  It is all glam and glitter politics.

Much less could be spent on bread and butter transport issues and bring about real change in people's lives and contribute to the state economy.  What about starting with the NGR trains that the LNP stuffed?

Oh, and will there be a transport policy from the LNP at the next state election, rather than just the promise of one and, finally, non-delivery.  No well-scoped plan, just thought bubbles from LNP designed to grab the headlines and a spot in Sunday night's TV news.   

[#Metro]

There is no need to put this in the river, it's brown anyway.

You won't see a thing in the aquarium.

Far better to put this on land at Mt Coot-tha, if at all.

[ozbob]

Wise words Mr Stillwater ... thank you ..

This song is very popular in #bigwilly* I understand .. meanwhile .......



* bigwilly = the new macro concentration of government that was once brisBANE  .. a.k.a 1 William Street