Media Release

Earlier today, the opposition leader Bill Shorten announced his support for a $5.2 billion dollar plan for a tunnel and rail project in Brisbane.

The Federal member for Kennedy, Bob Katter is outraged by the announcement, but not surprised:

“The ALP announced today they’re going to spend $5.2 billion in Brisbane.”

“Brisbane ALREADY has 21 kilometers of tunnels and nearly 200 overpasses!”

“Sydney only has 14 kilometers of tunnels and it’s twice the size of Brisbane!”

“And Brisbane has millions upon millions worth of pleasure domes. What does North Queensland have? Nothing. We have nothing. We struggle to fund even one road.”

“So what’s the ALP policy for this election? They’re going to build another lot of billions worth of infrastructure in Brisbane.”

“And what does Queensland get from it? We don’t get one single job. If that money was spent on roads or development in North Queensland, then you’d get hundreds of jobs forever.”

Mr Katter believes the Cross River Rail announcement is another example of why the state of North Queensland is viable:

“This happens time and time again. If government funding was evenly distributed in Queensland, there would be no need for the North to assert its independence.”