The Queensland Government has announced that it has secured a return to an 80:20 funding split for the Bruce Highway.
After a strong campaign by the State Government to deliver a safer Bruce for regional Queensland, the Federal Government announced it will reinstate the funding split.
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Brent Mickelberg, has welcomed the return of the long-standing 80:20 funding for the state’s most critical transport infrastructure.
“Since forming Government, we have been calling for Queensland’s fair share of funding from the Federal Government at every opportunity,” Minister Mickelberg said.
“Queensland deserves better than a second-class highway and that is why we are focused on delivering a safer and more reliable Bruce.
“One of my key priorities as Minister for Transport and Main Roads is to deliver a long-term upgrade plan to bring the Bruce Highway up to safety standards.
“Our newly formed Bruce Highway Advisory Council met before Christmas as committed to Queenslanders at the election and includes strong voices from the regions.
“The return to an 80:20 funding split is a welcomed commitment from the Federal Government to enable our delivery of a safer Bruce.”
Local government response
The peak body for Queensland councils has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of $7.2 billion and a return to fairer funding for the Bruce Highway.
The extra $7.2 billion will be spent bringing the Bruce up to a minimum three-star safety rating – matching the existing standard to major highways in southern states.
Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) President, Gladstone Regional Council Mayor Matt Burnett, thanked the Federal Government for listening to the public campaign that included councils and communities as well as the RACQ, the QFF, the Queensland Trucking Association and trauma doctors.
“The LGAQ and mayors were among the first to publicly urge the Federal Government to reverse their decision to make Queenslanders pay more for safe roads, joining the coalition of industry and community as well as face-to-face meetings in Canberra,” Mayor Burnett said.
“In November 2023 Queensland mayors took part in a two-level government delegation to Canberra to fight for a fairer infrastructure funding deal, and they have been keeping up the momentum ever since.
“As the level of government closest to our communities, councils know all too well the devastating impact every serious road injury and death has.
“It is terrific that the Federal Government has announced the most dangerous parts of the Bruce – including parts of the highway relied on by my own community – will be made safer, and the return to fairer, 80:20 funding with the state.
“The Federal Opposition has already committed to going back to 80:20 so we now look forward to its commitment to support this funding too.”
LGAQ CEO, Alison Smith, said that the funding was welcome but was just the beginning to providing what communities across Queensland need.
“The Bruce Highway is a critical road artery for Queensland but in Australia’s most decentralised state, roads across Queensland need funding, and an end to the 50-50 ‘Canberra cost shift’ that the current government adopted last year,” Ms Smith said.
“The reversal of the unfair 50-50 split and return to the long-accepted 80-20 funding model for the Bruce Highway hopefully puts us on the road to fairer road funding.
“And while no one would deny the importance of the Bruce Highway or of the funding announced so far, Queensland is the most decentralised state with thousands of kilometres of roads and other transport infrastructure that communities rely on and deserve further funding and upgrades.”
