#ausvotes19 Liberal National policies

[ozbob]

Rail Express --> Leak suggests Turnbull planned $1.5bn for high speed rail

Scott Morrison has refused to confirm Coalition plans for $7.6 billion in road and rail spending in marginal seats ahead of the next federal election.

A leaked document, reported by the Herald Sun, details a range of projects listed as "decisions taken but not yet announced" for the 2019 Budget.

The document suggests the Turnbull Government planned to target marginal seats ahead of the next federal election, which must happen before May 18 next year.

There's a $3.5 billion commitment to a North-South Link connecting rail to the future Western Sydney Airport, which would cross over seven Liberal seats, including the marginal seat of Lindsay.

$112 million of the leaked spending would go to the third stage of Gold Coast Light Rail, where the LNP's Warren Entsch holds a 4% majority.

The document also includes $185 million for Adelaide's tram expansion program, Adelink.

But the bigger-picture rail story included in the leak is a $1.5 billion package for pre-construction work for high speed rail between Newcastle, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.

High speed rail was given a feasibility study by the last Labor Government, but has garnered very little attention from the Coalition in recent years.

The Opposition has criticised the Coalition for not heeding Infrastructure Australia's warning in 2017 that corridor protection would have to take place sooner, rather than later, if high speed rail is ever to become a reality.

Whether the $1.5 billion in pre-construction spending will still take place under the Coalition's new leadership, is yet to be confirmed.

New PM Scott Morrison, speaking on Melbourne's 3AW radio station on Monday, refused to confirm the spending.

"What I will say is infrastructure commitments by my government will be made by me and they will be a reality when I announce them," Morrison said.

"The infrastructure commitments my government makes are decisions that I will take, and I've been in the job ... for 11 days."

Shadow infrastructure minister Anthony Albanese called the leak "damaging".

"[The leak] is yet another indictment of how dysfunctional the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government has become," Albanese told reporters in Sydney on Monday.

"What we have here is a range of projects; projects that aren't new; projects that have been delayed as the Government has cut actual infrastructure investment."

When it comes to high speed rail, Albo says he'll believe it when he sees it.

"I am pleased that the Government is somehow belatedly jumping on board that train," he told reporters. "But the train was at the station in 2013 and they cut funding for the High Speed Rail Authority and for the preservation of the corridor that was in the 2013 Budget.

"I have had Private Members Bills for the High Speed Rail project before the Parliament twice now in the last term and again in this term. We have had to reintroduce it because the Government refuses to debate it."

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Scott Morrison reveals blueprint for Brisbane road, rail projects

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has revealed a blueprint for new local road and rail projects to end traffic snarls crippling southeast Queensland, in an exclusive interview with The Courier-Mail.

Mr Morrison also revealed a highly personalised and confronting campaign ­detailing what a Shorten-led government would mean for Queenslanders.

Ahead of the Government's first Cabinet meeting of the year tomorrow, to be held in Brisbane, Mr Morrison will hit the hustings in the southeast to start rolling out plans that aim to smash congestion and connect satellite cities to Brisbane.

The PM is expected to ­arrive tomorrow, visiting electorates that represent some of the biggest concerns for the LNP in the southeast – Brisbane, Petrie, Dickson, Bowman, Bonner, Forde and Wright – before he leaves on Thursday.

He is also planning to campaign in Griffith, the only seat held by Labor.

The politics will be local, and he will leverage off the investment inertia accused of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, plus warn of the serious financial risk of having Labor ruling at a state and federal level.

It is understood upgrading carparks at key railway stations is being discussed ahead of May's Federal Budget. There will also be a specific focus on boosting jobs in Queensland, which is flailing behind NSW, Victoria and smaller states.

And he will seize on what was learned from the Victorian state election – that voters will brush aside controversial local issues, like Labor's red shirt scandal, if they believe their government is delivering on projects they need.

In Victoria, removing rail level-crossings which caused congestion was believed to be a stroke of genius by Premier Daniel Andrews.

To energise local LNP members to door knock, raise funds – highlighting the importance of the state – highly placed sources revealed the Government's election campaign headquarters will be in Brisbane.

Mr Morrison said cutting congestion had economic and social benefits and he had already announced $1.6 billion in Queensland since becoming Prime Minister five months ago, but more was to come.

He said long commutes home were putting pressure on families.

"You can't make sure they (kids) are off their devices and doing their homework, doing their piano practice or off at training if you're sitting in traffic," Mr Morrison said.

"I think this is what all families strive for ... but don't achieve as often as they like and that is to sit around the table together as a family to have a meal together and spend some time with each other," he said.

"This is robbed by urban congestion. We want to give that time back. You want stronger families, they've got to spend more time together and less time separated from each other because of those challenges of growing cities.

"Queensland can expect us to do that (keep investing in roads and rail) because we've also got the plan to have a strong economy in place that pays for it."

He pointed out that half the voting-age population have never lived through a recession during their working lives.

Asked about the Victorian election, in which Mr Andrews recorded a thumping win despite police launching a criminal investigation into allegations of Labor misusing taxpayers' money to pay campaign staff, Mr Morrison said: "As we go into the election, people will be quite less interested in commentary and politics and a lot more interested in what's going to happen and 'what does this mean for me, and what have you guys done, and what are you now planning to do'."

This appears to be a hint that Mr Morrison believes that voters will be less interested in Malcolm Turnbull's demise last August and more concerned about their future.

"What we've focused on is two principle things. The economy Queenslanders will live in for the next 10 years will be ­determined by who forms the next government,'' Mr Morrison said.

The Government would tell voters about what Labor leader Bill Shorten's $200 billion in new taxes would mean for them. Labor's negative gearing changes, capital gains tax and franking credits policies would be a focus.

"Bill Shorten (will be) charging people higher taxes to pay for the financial ­mismanagement of the Queensland Labor Government ... constant bailouts and no progress. (Queensland Government) is more interested in desks than they are in funding roads ... hospitals and medical services."

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1089654447297290240

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1089654067981217794

[#Metro]

It is understood upgrading carparks at key railway stations is being discussed ahead of May's Federal Budget. There will also be a specific focus on boosting jobs in Queensland, which is flailing behind NSW, Victoria and smaller states.

OMG.

Why not just load $50K on people's GoCard and give them away for free? Would have the same effect IMHO.

[verbatim9]

Be interesting what the Libs have to say tomorrow? They might commit to the rail  extension to Coolangatta Caloundra and announce partial build of the Toowoomba line? Inline with the regional city connect plan.

[verbatim9]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1089803341155074048

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> PM to announce major SEQ per day until Friday

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison will zero in on fixing southeast Queensland's congestion blues, while today revealing a souped-up economic masterplan that pledges 1.25 million new jobs and a 10 year-goal to eliminate $350 billion in debt.

Mr Morrison, who will deliver his first landmark economic speech of the year in Brisbane, will reach out to voters to explain how the Government's financial management enables better roads and new services.

"A stronger economy is a means," he will say.

"It is not an end in itself, a trophy on the shelf, it's about the benefits a stronger economy brings.

"The economy is about people."

Mr Morrison will make an announcement for southeast Queensland every day until Friday, releasing $243 million to fix local congestion in key seats, including Petrie, Dickson, Bowman, Bonner, Forde, Wright and the Labor seat of Griffith.

"A strong economy is the means by which we deliver the services and infrastructure that Australians rely on," Mr Morrison said.

The next stage of the Prime Minister's economic plan, which aims to "jolt voters from their apathy", focuses on the Government's achievements and plans.

The first Cabinet meeting of the year will also be held in Brisbane, in a dramatic shift from Mr Morrison's predecessor Malcolm Turnbull.

The Government's election campaign headquarters also will be in Brisbane.

Mr Morrison will today say the Government has credibility when it comes to creating jobs.

"When we released our first economic plan prior to being elected in 2013, we set a goal of one million new jobs within five years," he will say.

"Labor said we would fail, but we nailed it (with) 1.1 million jobs within five years, and we are now past 1.2 million jobs.

"I am making a new jobs pledge for our Government, to see 1.25 million jobs created over the next five years."

While not outlining details, Mr Morrison will fan further speculation about personal income tax cuts.

"Budget surpluses matter, because it means you are no longer in a debt spiral," he will say.

"When you have deficit after deficit it not only puts upward pressure on the interest rates we pay, it means less money for services because you are spending dead money on interest.

"By turning that around we are paying off debt and can cut taxes, so you have more money in your pocket.

"Our debt is now falling, and with continued good management, our debt can be eliminated within the decade. That's my goal."

Net debt includes rising asset values. The medium-term outlook is a surplus of about 1 per cent of GDP – about $18 billion on today's numbers.

In the latest Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, net debt is estmated to be lowered to $48 billion by 2028-29.

[Stillwater]

hum, track the marginal electorates.  Petrie is the most vulnerable. 

[aldonius]

Couriermail --> PM to announce major SEQ per day until Friday

Don't expect an election to be called for March. The Libs are near-broke and want to run as much of this campaign as possible on the Commonwealth's dime.

[verbatim9]

^^Don't know how anyone perceived a March election when there is a budget in April?


Pm just announced an extra 250million for upgrades to inner city intersections, Gympie arterial road upgrades and new Park n Ride facilities at key rail stations. This is on top of the 1.6bn spend that has been committed from the 2018/19 budget.

^^Pretty much car and road centric announcements. Nothing new!

[SurfRail]

Useless, and likely irrelevant anyway - it is possible, but it is very difficult for them to pull through with anything other than a drubbing. 

Personally, I think they would be beyond lucky to walk away from this election with 50 seats. 

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Morrison pledges SEQ road funding, while Queensland seeks Cross River Rail cash

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has unveiled the first part of his push to reduce road congestion in south-east Queensland, but the state's premier says it is too little too late.

Mr Morrison travelled to Brisbane on Monday to hold the first federal cabinet meeting of the year, before giving a speech to announce the first portion of a $243 million package to reduce congestion in the region.

The projects announced were an upgrade of the intersection of Commercial Road and Doggett Street in Newstead, as well as upgrades of the Gympie Arterial Road, Ipswich Motorway and Mt Lindesay Highway corridors.

Mr Morrison also announced upgrades to the park and ride facilities at the Mango Hill and Ferny Grove train stations.

The Prime Minister did not give exact dollar figures for the individual projects, but said it was all fresh funding on top of existing road upgrade projects.

"This is in addition to the $1.6 billion I have already announced for transport infrastructure projects in Queensland since I became Prime Minister," he told the audience in Brisbane on Tuesday.

"These are Investments that will mean families can get around the table at night for their evening meal.

"There are Australians who don't get to do that because they're stuck in traffic jams."

But earlier on Tuesday, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk hit out at Mr Morrison's funding package, saying it was missing a major component

"Our number one infrastructure project for dealing with congestion in the southeast is the Cross River Rail," the Premier said.

"Five billion dollars that my government is investing in this project, not one dollar from the federal government.

"I'm always happy to meet the Prime Minister to discuss Queensland's priorities and as such he has not asked for a meeting.

"I look forward to hearing what plans Scott Morrison has for Queensland but frankly I think it's a little too late."

Queensland Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said the Premier had previously claimed the state could go it alone on Cross River Rail funding.

"It's come back to bite them hasn't it? Because Annastacia Palaszczuk and (Deputy Premier) Jackie Trad said that they had fully funded Cross River Rail," Mr Frecklington said.

"They've said they're going to fund it, they need to get on and build it."

Mr Morrison is due to make an announcement on south-east Queensland infrastructure funding every day this week until Friday.

The funding will target several key seats including Dickson, held by government frontbencher Peter Dutton with a razor-thin margin, Petrie and the Labor-held seat of Griffith.

The announcements form part of the prime minister's larger "economic masterplan" to create 1.25 million new jobs over the next decade, while wiping $350 billion in debt off the books.

[SurfRail]

It's really not that hard to figure out Deb:

Step 1 - Every dollar the Feds give us for CRR is a dollar less we need to spend on it and can spend on other things
Step 2 - Every dollar the Feds give us for unnecessary, wasteful and contra-indicated things like expanding park and ride capacity is a dollar less they can give us for something useful (ie Step 1).

[Stillwater]

The PM forgot to promise to paint the dunny doors on the public toilets in New Farm Park.  His announcement is hardly a 'strategy' or a 'plan'.  Hopefully there will be some more well thought out funding proposals to be announced tomorrow and Friday.

[#Metro]

Step 1 - Every dollar the Feds give us for CRR is a dollar less we need to spend on it and can spend on other things
Step 2 - Every dollar the Feds give us for unnecessary, wasteful and contra-indicated things like expanding park and ride capacity is a dollar less they can give us for something useful (ie Step 1).

Didn't we hear that "Cross River Rail is FULLY FUNDED" by the State Government? Money is money!

[SurfRail]

So?  We should be champing at the bit to get as much Federal money as possible into projects of national significance.  Doesn't matter whether we can fund them independently or not.

The delays to date have more to do with public sector (in)competence than anything else as I understand it.  QLD does not have the bureaucratic expertise to do things like CRR promptly anymore since so much of the public service's institutional capacity has been lobotomised over the past decade.

[#Metro]

So?  We should be champing at the bit to get as much Federal money as possible into projects of national significance.  Doesn't matter whether we can fund them independently or not.

The delays to date have more to do with public sector (in)competence than anything else as I understand it.  QLD does not have the bureaucratic expertise to do things like CRR promptly anymore since so much of the public service's institutional capacity has been lobotomised over the past decade.

If it is already paid for... move on to the next thing. QLD gov't said they would fund it, let them commit to their promise.

Let them spend the money on the Sunshine Coast Line and Gold Coast Line. Gold Coast line extension would be ideal, if it crosses into NSW or had stations at OOL (Federal Land) then it would automatically have 'Federal' character as well to justify Federal funds.

[Stillwater]

Courier-Mail: "Scott Morrison will today unveil a multi-million dollar hyper-local plan to end traffic congestion and improve public transport options in two key marginal Brisbane seats at risk of falling to Labor."

Roll out the pork to buy votes.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> PM Scott Morrison promises funding to speed commuting times

THREE new rail station car parks and 10 road upgrades will be announced in Queensland under a $226 million Coalition scheme to slash commuting times.

In a plan that aims to get 1200 cars off choked roads between Logan, the Gold Coast and Brisbane, Prime Minister Scott Morrison will announce what he has billed a congesting-busting series of projects.

Rail stations at Beenleigh, Loganlea and Coomera will get new car parks paid for out of a special Budget fund for commuters.

A series of other road upgrades around commuter belt suburbs will further ease traffic snarls in a move the Coalition hopes will help bolster support in marginal electorates including Forde, Petrie, Dickson, Ryan and Brisbane.

The funding was locked in this year's Budget but the projects had not yet been announced.

Scott Morrison will announced the plans today ahead of his arrival in Brisbane, where he will debate Bill Shorten at The Courier-Mail/Sky News People's Forum on Friday.

Mr Morrison said the upgrades would help Queenslanders get home sooner and safer.

"People are sick of sitting in traffic and these local and practical measures will help people get home sooner and safer," Mr Morrison said.

"By managing money and running a strong economy we are able to invest record funding in road and rail projects which improve the lives of so many Queenslanders.

"This funding will fix local traffic pinch points and bottle necks that have the most impact on congestion, helping everyone get home sooner."

The 10 road projects include upgrades to the intersection at Oxley Drive and Brisbane Rd in Arundel, High Rd and Easterly St in Waterford, Henry Rd-Dohles Rocks Rd in Griffin and the Klinger Rd and Boardman Rd intersection in Kippa-Ring.

Other roads in Bracken Ridge, Coopers Plains, Priestdale, Beenleigh, Park Ridge and Kenmore were also slated for improvements in a move designed to ease pressure on traffic around the city.

The upgrades are part of Mr Morrison's plan to claw back support from voters with a series of road by road improvements that make life easier for residents.

They will build on upgrades including to the Pacific and Gateway motorways and the Gold Coast light rail.

Melbourne received 25 commuter car parks under the Budget fund but a government adviser said local communities in Melbourne had lobbied for the car parks while demand in Brisbane was greater for roadworks.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1123248631526518790

[Stillwater]

Is that it?  Hyper local investment linked to the voting sentiment at the polling booth down the road.

Just when is the North Coast Connect Business Case going to be ready?  Maybe some dollars for that, over and above existing commitments for SCL duplication.  After all, it does run through Petrie, Dickson and Longman, Mr Morrison.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1123353922419118080

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/SEQMayors/status/1127065902548017157