QMCA congratulates Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, on his election win on Saturday and hope that a clear majority can be reached, enabling the Coalition to form a strong government that is willing and able to help drive Australia’s economic growth.
CEO, Jon Davies, offered congratulations to Mr Morrison, “QMCA congratulates Mr Morrison on being elected to the highest office in the land. We look forward to the Coalition meeting its pre-election commitments such as upgrading the M1, retaining the Australian Building and Construction Commission, progressing Inland Rail and ensuring that businesses benefit from reduced tax and red and green tape.”
“Throughout the election campaign, the Coalition has indicated a willingness to invest in major projects in Queensland and we would encourage all steps to be taken to ensure projects are funded in a way that creates a sustainable pipeline of infrastructure projects in Queensland including bringing forward funding for key projects.”
“We would also encourage the Federal Government to revisit its refusal to fund Cross River Rail. The votes of Queenslanders have delivered an unexpected victory for Scott Morrison and that support should be repaid through reconsideration of funding for this vital infrastructure project, as Federal funding would enable the Queensland Government to release committed project funds to invest in regional projects and programmes of work,” said Mr Davies.
QMCA also believes that the State Government should take note of the election result.
“The ongoing delay and political infighting between state and federal Labor relating to the Carmichael mine has shown that above all else Queenslanders value investment in jobs and infrastructure. This was made resoundingly clear in the Coalition’s sweep of Queensland from the Sunshine Coast to Cape York and should send a clear message to the State Government that projects which will employ Queenslanders must not be delayed without appropriate and fair reasoning,” said Mr Davies.
Despite positive investment and funding promises, QMCA remains concerned that differences of party at state and federal level will see projects stall in Queensland and would encourage greater collaboration between the new Federal government and the Queensland Government.
“A key priority for both levels of government must be to work together and to ensure that Queenslanders have the infrastructure that we need. We would ask that Mr Morrison and Ms Palaszczuk take an open-minded approach to working together and prioritise negotiations for key projects and initiatives.”
“Renegotiation of the National Partnership Agreement on Roads, finalising an Intergovernmental Agreement for Inland Rail and the completion of a SEQ City Deal are all key priorities that QMCA and our members wish to see delivered as quickly as possible by the Morrison and Palaszczuk Governments,” said Mr Davies.
