New transport Minister - is she committed to UrbanLink and ExpressLink

[somebody]

I am questioning whether the new transport is committed to the UrbanLink and ExpressLink plans outlined by the previous minister.  The new IPS-CAB timetable doesn't do it.  Then the question is: why not, and when are we getting a timetable which does?

[#Metro]

Agreed. Ipswich and Cab, if possible on infrastructure, should get 15 minute train services in the off peak.

[Cam]

Good question. Ipswich to Caboolture off peak express services should have been included in the 2011 draft IMO - if possible with the current infrastructure.

Late last year I read that a tender was called for the construction of facilities at the stabling yard at Redbank. However, it doesn't appear that construction has started yet. The stabling yard is required for URBANLINK (services terminating/commencing at Redbank) & therefore EXPRESSLINK (express Roma St to Redbank stopping only at a couple of major stations).

I'm concerned by the removal of the http://www.connectingseq.qld.gov.au/ website.

[somebody]

Isn't it only UrbanLink to Darra, which is already delivered?

I was hoping ozbob could get the Minister to clarify this one in due course.

[#Metro]

I'm concerned by the removal of the http://www.connectingseq.qld.gov.au/ website.

Maybe they are going to release the final version? After all it was a draft. Or maybe it is just a server bug...

[Stillwater]

The publication of the various 'connecting' plans became a tool for gauging the state government's delivery against what it said it would do.  And what it did when it was not on track to deliver promised infrastructure was to produce yet another 'Connecting SEQ' plan that pushed the delivery date out to the next five-year block.  That had the effect of also shifting the big expenditure to the last eight years before 2031 -- a virtually impossible task, especially as the Premier admitted that most of Connecting SEQ 2031 was unfunded.

At the same time, the government has been under pressure from Far North Queensland, Central Queensland etc asking 'where is our 'connecting' document?  All the money is going to the South-east, they argued.

So what to do?  The state government now proposes the QIP -- The Queensland Infrastructure Plan.  It will replace the SEQIPP document (South-east Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program).  Connecting SEQ 2031 and SEQIPP had common elements.  QIP probably will contain less detail on SEQ and highlight expenditure elsewhere, outside SEQ.  With an eye to next year's election, it will be silent on areas where the government has not delivered on promises, and will highlight its plans and promises elsewhere.

[Cam]

Isn't it only UrbanLink to Darra, which is already delivered?

I was hoping ozbob could get the Minister to clarify this one in due course.

No, the maps in the draft document clearly show UrbanLink to Redbank, Springfield & Strathpine.

[#Metro]

UrbanLink = 15 minutes trains isn't it?

[SteelPan]

Pollies Everywhere are ONLY committed to:
1. Reports
2. Studies
3. More Reports
4. More Studies
5. Lunch
6. Press Release
7. Press Release with Xtra Spin
8. Another Report, this time into a Studies "Findings" Summary
9. Press Conference, with accompaning Press Release - Spin in Triple Doses - into Studies "Findings" - to announce forth-coming consideration for possible follow-up study, to re-consider original findings in light of policy "enhancements".  (ppfffewww - buried that for another 3yrs)
10. Pre Dinner Drinks - followed by dinner (that was yummy)
11. Overseas study tour - look at London and New York Subway Networks - (why, not real sure, as we'll build bugger all in this part of the world - stop off at Vegas on way back should be great but)
12. More Studies - with follow-up Reports
13. Deliver Industry Speech entitled "SE Qld Transit Profile 2035, 7 months, 14 Days and 9 Hours" - Building Tomorrows Infrastructure Today - (yeah that sounds original, no-one will have ever used that before -  ohh and throw in the words "World Class" a few times)
14. Move out of Transport Ministers office following Cabinet Reshuffle and whole process returns to point "1"

now you know!  

[ozbob]

Until the final Connecting SEQ 2031 the concepts of UrbanLink and ExpressLink are still in a draft?

None the less, we do expect some announcements on the timetables shortly, but alas, as we know from the drafts the SEQ 2031 Link concepts are still a long way away - if ever.  Is the new Transport Minister committed to UrbanLink and ExpressLink? I think the entire Queensland Government is by their publication of the SEQ 2031 document.  It is just that it would seem impossible to implement the link concepts with the present infrastructure and staff constraints ... let alone funding issues not withstanding ...

[somebody]

Until the final Connecting SEQ 2031 the concepts of UrbanLink and ExpressLink are still in a draft?

Good point.  I'm pretty sure the website reduced it to Darra, before it went offline.

UrbanLink = 15 minutes trains isn't it?

Yes.

[Barbar]

SteelPan you're right on the money...plans on plans on plans in a never ending cycle   

[mufreight]

Steelpan, you are right on the mark.
My perspective is little different.
1.  Create an excuse to employ more party hacks as consultents at over the top salaries to prepare reports to justify their existence while they justify further delay and obfuscation.
2.  Having expended the budget for the project these party hacks then pass the project to their fellow party hacks in the field of preparing politicaly oriented justification for not proceeding with the project while now expending sufficent public funds to place the project budget into deficit while justifying the failure to proceed with the project blaming the lack of funds, but presenting the government 'Would if it could line'
3.  Move the responsible minister to another portfolio when the political pressure from the community becomes too great and have the propoganda generators then commence the next round of 'promises' for the election while once again still having no intention of actualy building or doing nothing.

[#Metro]

I call it "Planning to fail" or programmed failure.

Sydney metro did it.
The HSR to the Gold Coast will do it.
The metro proposal for Brisbane will probably do it.
Large parts of Connecting SEQ 2031 will probably do it due to the financial impossibility of funding all, or even most of the promises.
The express buses on Northern Link/Legacy way also did it

and so on and so on.

The benefit to politicians today is that they can get the kudos now and the plan will fail some other time into the future when everybody has forgotten about it and the gloss has faded.

[Stillwater]

It is reassuring to see the variety of perspectives around this issue.  Of themselves, government reports are good because they provide a baseload of information that can be used to argue a case – and also present the counter claim, based on the facts revealed.  The public can use reports to pressure government to act.

Where things go awry is when governments ignore reports for political or budgetary reasons, or try to bury report findings because they don't agree with them from an ideological perspective.   Sometimes governments agree with reports, but fall behind in the timetable for implementation.  That's when the spin and the media statements, the backflips, the stalling, buck passing and obfuscation come about.

Translink's observation that it 'has an image problem', although an admission from the CEO, could be considered code for saying that the government has a problem on the transport front.  No surprises there.  The more important issue is what is the government doing about it?
The closer to an election, both the Opposition and government are under pressure to make significant change.  Unfortunately, that means more promises, but it is the public's duty in a democracy to examine those promises (informed by the reports) and to hold political parties and ministers to account.

The Westminster tradition of a minister accepting responsibility for significant government blunders and resigning as a consequence has been blurred in Queensland.  The best example of that can be seen in the fact that Mr Lucas is still a minister and did not resign after the Health Department payroll fiasco.  The point is, Mr Lucas is no longer Health Minister.  Clearly, Premier Bligh has shuffled the pack of ministerial responsibilities because she can't have in certain portfolios ministers who have stated one thing, when the government has sensed the political wind in the lead-up to an election, less than one year away now, and intends to change course on critical vote-winning issues.  We will see those as policy reversals, or radical deviations of course.

This forum's job is to make transport one of those issues. The rail boycott about ticketing prices and fare structures resulted in the new transport minister saying she would do something about the issue raised.  It was an example of people power at work.

Likewise, the LNP is going through the same process of policy development amid an internal panic about leadership and direction.  Right now, if John-Paul Langbroek told us what he intends having for lunch, that would be a deep insight into LNP policy.

The fact that the draft Connecting SEQ 2031 document has been withdrawn from the website indicates that the government intends making changes.  I hope so – especially in respect of the incremental milestones it has to reach year on year to achieve 2031 targets.  That would be another report that would allow us to chart the progress, or otherwise, of the government towards meeting its promises.  Although, no one – not even Labor – can count on the fact it will be around in 2031 to fulfil its promises.  It will be a highwire act to balance the cost of ongoing promises, reconstruction after natural disasters, the assets sale, possible new taxing arrangements (inlcuding a carbon tax) and the cost of election sweeteners in geographically sensitive areas (read marginal electorates).

The Treasurer, Andrew Fraser, now has charge of major infrastructure and its delivery.  That could be seen as a good sign that the government realises the real financial implications of promises.  Clearly Mr Fraser is the Minister in charge of the Bligh Government's re-election.
His recent statement that new tax arrangements nationally could lead to the scrapping of sales tax indicates that he intends putting radical proposals to the tax summit in October.  If accepted, that paves the way for a substantial restructuring of the state budget from financial year 2012-13.

Between October this year and 1 June 2013 is the date for a state election where promises will be made, based on the agreements wrought at the tax summit.  They need to be funded and realistic promises, directed at community and not political beneficial outcomes.

In order for transport to be close to the top of the pile in policy responses and promises – from both sides of politics -- we need to be vigilant.  And focussed on what's needed realistically.