Cross River Rail project left out of Queensland budget

Australia’s Minister for Infrastructure and Transport has criticised the lack of financial support shown by the Queensland Government to Brisbane’s planned Cross River Rail Project.

Anthony Albanese said that “Queenslanders deserve better” after bemoaning the project’s omission from the administration’s latest budget.

Answering a question in parliament, Albanese said: “They said, ‘If you put in $715 million we’ll put in $715 million.’

“I looked for it in their budget. Not a zack, not a cent, for the Cross River Rail project. But it gets better. Today we find out they have an alternative plan for the congestion! They are going to rip seats out of the trains and make people stand up.”

Cross River Rail is a proposed rail tunnel running north to south beneath the city’s central business district and Brisbane River.

The project would include four new underground stations and connect to the existing rail network.

“That is the Newman Government’s solution to congestion on Brisbane’s rail system” added Albanese.

“That is austerity in practice. That is the position of this bloke (Tony Abbott), who has said he won’t put one cent into the Cross River Rail project. The combination is diabolical and it is a farce.

“Queenslanders deserve better.”




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