Opposition Statement: Bligh crisis management seizes Transport from Mickel

[ozbob]

Tim Nicholls MP
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party
Shadow Minister for Transport, Traffic Management,
Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations   
Member for Clayfield            


2 April 2008

Bligh crisis management seizes Transport from Mickel

TRAFFIC congestion and public transport are the latest Queensland Government sectors to be added to the long line of Beattie-Bligh Government failings.

Queensland's crisis list includes water, health, electricity and children in care.

Premier Anna Bligh today signalled her lack of confidence in Transport Minister John Mickel by seizing control from Labor's factional heavyweight.

There will even be a "special unit team" within the Premier's Office that will consider the longstanding traffic and transport problems choking South East Queensland.

Shadow Transport Minister Tim Nicholls said the Premier had lost confidence in the Transport Minister following the debacle this week over the mishandling of changes to Citytrain timetables and a series of gaffes over the GoCard.

"Premier Bligh's admission that Queensland Transport needs an overhaul will come as no surprise to the thousands of commuters who were left stranded yesterday when the new Citytrain timetable was introduced," Mr Nicholls said.

Mr Nicholls said Queensland Rail was running very late on two Labor election commitments - with the delivery of promised train carriages well behind schedule.

A Question on Notice has revealed the lack of progress on Queensland Rail's upgrade to the rail network. *

Former Premier Peter Beattie promised commuters 132 new carriages to upgrade the rail network and help cope with the increasing demand.

This included 72 new carriages in 2004 and an additional 60 in 2006. But only 39 new carriages have so far been delivered.

"With this delay to additional carriages, it is no wonder the rail network is struggling to keep up," Mr Nicholls said.

"Commuters voted for this Government under the pretence that they would improve public transport."

"Fixing the transport crisis will require more than just another layer of bureaucracy - even if it does have a fancy title like 'special unit team'. This 'fast talking, slow moving' government needs to deliver on its promises to Queenslanders," he said.

Media Contact ? Tim Nicholls 0438 859 145

Question on Notice
No. 128
Asked on Thursday 14 February 2008

MR NICHOLLS ASKED THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT, TRADE, EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS (MR MICKEL)-

QUESTION:

With reference to the Government's 2004 and 2006 commitments to provide a total of 132 new Citytrain carriages-

(1) How many Citytrain carriages have been delivered and are fully operational?
(2) What are the timelines for delivery of the remaining carriages?
(3) On which Citytrain lines will the new carriages be operational and how many new carriages will be allocated to each line (reported separately)?

ANSWER:

The 2006 election commitment was to fast-track an extra 60 train carriages on the Citytrain network over and above the 72 which were then under construction, taking the total number of new carriages to 132.

I am advised that as of 18 February 2008, 39 new carriages were in operation on the Citytrain network.

I am advised that by late 2010, there will be 132 new carriages in service.

Queensland Rail is undertaking its annual Passenger Load Survey and will use the data collected from that survey to help decide where to use the new carriages.

[ozbob]

The evidence would suggest the present port folios for the Minister Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations are too broad with too many competing issues.

A dedicated Minister for Transport is urgently required.

Transport is looming as a major issue for the Bligh Government and its electoral survival may well depend on how it addresses the basket case that is now transport generally.

Reactionary tunnel plans are doing nothing.