Article: Labor keep big-ticket projects close to their chest

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From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Labor keep big-ticket projects close to their chest

Labor keep big-ticket projects close to their chest
Daniel Hurst | March 14, 2009

The Federal Government remains tight-lipped on the possibility it will announce funding for big-ticket Queensland infrastructure projects before the State Election.

Infrastructure Australia will complete a report this month recommending which large-scale road, rail, bus, port and energy projects the Federal Government should fund as part of its nation-building plan.

The Queensland projects being considered include Bruce Highway upgrades worth $10.6 million, Gateway Motorway upgrades worth $2.9 billion, the $14 billion Brisbane Inner City Rail Capacity Upgrade plan and the $850 million Gold Coast Rapid Transport scheme.

Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese, on a visit to Brisbane yesterday, refused to say whether the Federal Government would announce funding for these projects in the final week of the Queensland election campaign.

Mr Albanese confirmed he would receive a report from the Infrastructure Australia advisory body this month, but said the exact handover date was still unknown.

"When we receive the list of projects the government will give it consideration and we'll then make announcements appropriately," he told brisbanetimes.com.au.

"We have not received the list from Infrastructure Australia. They will be giving it to us - in accordance with the time frame that was established more than a year ago - this month."

Mr Albanese said he was not going to speculate on whether an announcement could be made before his Queensland Labor colleagues faced the voters on March 21.

"Look, I'm not going to answer questions based on theoreticals," he said.

Mr Albanese made the comments during a visit to Pinkenba, on Brisbane's northside, to announce the Federal Government would spend $42.7 million installing boom gates or completing other safety upgrades at 66 rail level crossings.

Queensland Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg has previously accused Premier Anna Bligh of relying heavily on announcements by the popular Rudd Federal Government as part of her re-election pitch.