Transcript of Interview with Martin Ferguson AM MP, Shadow Minister for Transport, Roads and Tourism and George Colbran, Candidate for Herbert
MARTIN FERGUSON: “…(Inaudible) available money. $105 million will also be spent on Black Spots and the importance of rest spots - which are exceptionally important on difficult stretches of road – a commitment of $5 million to actually put in place more rest spots.
“The key to the upgrade of the Bruce Highway is an ongoing commitment starting with Auslink 2 through to Auslink 3, project by project, on a cost benefit basis to work with the Queensland Government and the northern Mayors to make sure that we select the right projects to spend wisely and responsibly.
“That’s why in terms of the next election, the people of Northern Queensland will understand the Bruce Highway is a priority to a Rudd Labor Government. Also, in terms of each project, which projects will be done and what the cost of those projects are.”
JOURNALIST: “Now last week, as you said, Mr Rudd was here and he had said $450 million for the Bruce Highway from Sarina through to Cairns, now we are talking $1.1 billion. Are you here to correct his mistake?”
MARTIN FERGUSON: “Last week the Leader of the Opposition, Kevin Rudd, made a down-payment in terms of the upgrade, a $2.2 billion upgrade of the Bruce Highway by a Rudd Labor Government. Of that $2.2 billion, a Rudd Labor Government will spend $1.1 billion to Sarina through to Cairns, which is $300 million more than the Howard Government.
“In addition to that, I will be making further announcements, in terms of the expenditure of $1.1 billion, over the next 24 hours concerning Sarina through to Cairns.
“It is about making sure that prior to the election the people in Northern Queensland understand how the money is to be spent, which projects will be funded and that the money is being spent wisely and responsibly, not just for new projects but also on maintenance.”
JOURNALIST: “Now we asked at length, back then at the press conference, it was $450 million from Sarina to Cairns and we got that from three different people, then we asked the Treasurer two days later and got the same answer and now you are here changing the figure.”
MARTIN FERGUSON: “As Shadow Minister for Transport, on an ongoing basis, I am making the major road and rail corridor announcements around Australia.
“As Kevin Rudd was in Townsville last week, it was appropriate that he make some announcements about important road upgrades on the Bruce Highway, for example, the southern approach to Townsville and also the overtaking lanes from Sarina through to Cairns.
“My overall responsibilities is now to make sure that our full package, the $1.1 billion from Sarina through to Cairns - $300 million more than the Howard Government - is on the table in full detail before the election and I will complete that before the end of the week.”
JOURNALIST: “So we have got $450 million to $1.1 billion, are you going to up that again?”
MARTIN FERGUSON: “The $1.1 billion is part of a $2.2 billion package on the Bruce Highway.
“The truth of the matter is if it hadn’t been for the Labor Party in the lead-up to the last election, we would not be now well advanced in the Tully flood-proofing. It is the Labor Party that then lead, in partnership with the Queensland Government, as someone who has actually driven the road on a number of occasions, including a couple of weeks ago, I have seen the progress to date. That’s because the Labor Party lead it at the last election and we will also lead again at this election.
“The Labor Party will also put $1.1 billion on Sarina through to Cairns, $300 million more than the Howard Government.”
JOURNALIST: “(Inaudible) …What are the timeframes of implementing these road works?”
MARTIN FERGUSON: “In terms of available transport money, the Howard Government has spent all of Auslink 1.
“The funding for the upgrade of the Bruce Highway, which frankly is now catch-up because of neglect by the Howard Government over the last 11 and a half years, will come in Auslink 2 which commences in 2009-10.
“That is the first available new money to an incoming government.”
JOURNALIST: (Inaudible)
MARTIN FERGUSON: “The 2009-10 funding of Auslink 2 is in the next Parliament.
“The responsibility of each of the major Parties is to let the electorate know prior to the election how Auslink 2 will be allocated. More importantly, in terms of transport planning for State and Territory Governments who deliver the road and rail upgrades, the sooner they know which projects form the priority basis of cost benefit analysis, the better.
“That enables them to proceed with the environmental and engineering assessments, which enables them to start the works sooner rather than later when the money kicks in. You have to understand, every delay in delivery of roads costs more. For example in the south eastern division of Queensland, construction costs are going up about 17% every 12 months.
“So the sooner State and Territory Governments know when the money is available and what projects are the priorities, they can do the pre-assessments - all the engineering and environmental works - therefore over time we are saving money.
“If the Howard Government had of done more on the Bruce Highway over the last decade, then we would be a mile in front.”
“They caught up with Labor in the last election on Tully and I am pleased they did because it is about time to flood-proof the Bruce, improve the traffic flow, reduce accidents and also save business money because the freight corridors are exceptionally important to Australia and the Bruce Highway as part of an Australia Government’s national road and rail freight corridor.”
JOURNALIST: “You describe yourselves as economic conservatives but you come up and gazump the $450 million to $2 billion, now you have gone up by $300 million on the Bruce Highway. What is conservative about that?”
MARTIN FERGUSON: “The issue of Auslink is the available funds allocated under Auslink 2 which is available to both Parties.
“The difference between the Rudd Labor team and the Howard Government, is that we are going to spend the funds in terms of priority projects according to a cost-benefit analysis.
“It is not just a question of spending the dollars, it is about spending them wisely and responsibly. I must say, we are sticking to the Auslink corridors previously identified by the State and Territory Governments.
“They are the freight corridors which need to be fixed and the Bruce Highway is not just important to the Northern Queensland community, it is important to Australia because it is part of our national freight corridor.”
JOURNALIST: “Can you give us the timings of each of the projects you have announced in Cairns and Townsville today?”
MARTIN FERGUSON: “Each of the projects will start under Auslink 2. We will now cut the arrangements with the Queensland Government in terms of each of the projects and the profiles of the years under Auslink 2.
“Under Auslink 2, these projects will start in the next Parliament because that is the first available money therefore we now have to determine our priorities and then work out each of the profiles.
“It is not just a question of Federal money on the profiles, it is also a question of available State Government money with respect to some projects which therefore enables them to make different arrangements.
“With some projects, State money comes on first to start a particular project. Alternatively, on others the Federal money comes on first so you start another project, which enables you if you have a Partnership Agreement, to actually get more projects underway.”
JOURNALIST: “But all the funding is Federal money?”
MARTIN FERGUSON: “$1.1 billion is all Federal money.”
JOURNALIST: “Out of Auslink 2?”
MARTIN FERGUSON: “Out of Auslink 2 starting in 2009-10.”
JOURNALIST: “So tell us the timing you would like to see on each of the projects you are funding.”
MARTIN FERGUSON: “Each of the projects will have the available timing and the years identified and the amount of money spent in each year. That information will be made available as a result of the Agreement with the Queensland Government before the 24 November.
“But the guarantee is there that under Auslink 2, $1.1 billion will be spent on Sarina through to Cairns. The detail work is already underway in terms of each State and Territory with respect to their Auslink 2 packages for road and rail around Australia.
“I will be making further announcements not just for Queensland but also in other parts of Australia over the next few weeks.”
JOURNALIST: “Would you announce the $150 million for the work south of Cairns today, when is that going to be done?”
MARTIN FERGUSON: “Auslink 2 funding kicks in 2009-10, that will start in the next Parliament.
“That effectively means for 2009-10 through to 2014-15 all these projects will be completed because that is the structure of Auslink 2 funding.”
JOURNALIST: “Does that include south of Mulgrave?”
MARTIN FERGUSON: “The $40 million being spent on the southern approach to Mulgrave is also part of Auslink 2.
“That is available funding commencing the financial year 2009-10 through to 2014-15.”
JOURNALIST: “So the funds are available but it is up to the State Government to spend it?”
MARTIN FERGUSON: “In terms of Auslink 2 funding and the Partnership Agreement; the responsibility of the Australian Government has always been to make the dollars available.
“The engineering and delivery of projects is the State and Territory Government responsibility.
“The Queensland Government is now satisfied that they know which projects stack up and they can now get on with all of the planning work and undertake all the environmental and engineering assessments and go to tender.
“As has been the case in the past with each of these projects, the years and the profiles will be released as is a requirement of both Parties before the election because you have to account for every dollar - not only in the Department of Transport and Regional Services portfolio and for health and education - in terms of a year-by-year-basis in every portfolio.
JOURNALIST: “But you can’t say that yet and you are going to be able to say that before November 22, is that right?”
MARTIN FERGUSON: “The profiles are here and they will be detailed as part of a full statement about how Auslink 2 will be allocated by a Rudd Labor Government prior to the election, as is also the requirement of the Howard Government. They haven’t done it to date yet either because that is an ongoing process because it is approximately $14-15 billion to be spent over the five years.
“The important issue is: determining which of the projects, what is the cost of each of the projects and putting the money on the table.”
JOURNALIST: “And when will that be lodged?”
MARTIN FERGUSON: “It will be lodged by the time of the election because we have to make sure that each of the dollars stacks up and that the amount of money being spent under Auslink 2 is fully in accordance with what is allocated under the Budget.
“That there are no over-runs, there can be under-runs because that leaves money to be allocated through to the next Parliament. The main thing is in determining the funding, there is nothing over and above the Auslink 2 allocation.
“Thanks very much.”