The Morrison government has been accused of plucking a budget promise “out of thin air” after it pledged $1.6 billion for the decades-old CAMCOS project.
The staggering figure was announced on Monday to advance the long-awaited Beerwah to Caloundra and Maroochydore railway line, which has not progressed since 1999.
However, the State Government, which has to match that $1.6 billion for it to go ahead, has questioned the figure after examining the budget announcement “in detail”.
In a statement, State Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the announcement was all “smoke and mirrors”.
“Details of the Morrison Government’s federal budget show just $250 million of its $1.6 billion promise will be delivered between now and late 2026,” Mr Bailey said.
The passenger rail, which would have to built before the 2032 Olympic Games, has not been officially costed yet.
On Monday, Mr Bailey labelled the election promise a “cynical” attempt to buy votes.
“We’ll wait to see the outcome of the federal election, but there’s no doubt we’ll be investing in the Games infrastructure, but this is just a cynical election bribe by a desperate government,” he said.
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Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien, who spruiked the budget announcement, said the State Government was avoiding the real question — would it match the funding 50:50?
“The Federal Government’s $1.6 billion commitment is there in black and white in budget papers, with payments staged across the project’s lifetime as per normal practice,” said Mr O’Brien
“Detailed design, planning and approvals will take place over coming years, with the bulk of construction in the second half of the decade, in time for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
He accused the State Transport Minister of trying to “sabotage” the CAMCOS project.
“Mark Bailey is playing word games to avoid answering the real question which is whether the State Government will match the Federal Government’s $1.6 billion to build the new passenger rail line,” he said.
“Bailey has been supportive of this project but that all changed when we put serious money on the table to make it happen.
“The total cost of the project is $3.2 billion which is based on the North Coast Connect business case plus additional contingency.
“Sunshine Coast residents won’t be taken for mugs. Everyone knows Bailey’s prepared to sabotage any Sunshine Coast project to get a weak Albanese Labor Government into office.”
Member for Fisher and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Andrew Wallace, said the State Labor Government should “get on board” with the project instead of playing “political games”.
“Instead of coming to the table and stumping up their share, Labor are playing silly political games, at Sunshine Coast residents’ expense,” he said.
“The Premier, Mark Bailey and Jason Hunt just need to come out and tell us whether they will match our $1.6 billion.
“If they won’t match it, they need to explain to the Sunshine Coast community why.
“Why are they funding more rail for the Gold Coast and Brisbane, but no new rail for the Sunshine Coast?”
State Member for Caloundra, Jason Hunt, said Sunshine Coast residents would see through the “big dollar election stunt”.
“I want to see this project properly costed and properly planned rather than making premature and empty promises to try to save their seats at the federal election,” he said.
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