The Queensland government’s ‘transport week’ received a boost straight from the top, with Tony Abbott taking time out of his Team Australia schedule to throw his support behind the Newman government’s transport infrastructure plan.
Premier Campbell Newman and Transport minister Scott Emerson announced the ‘Spruce the Bruce’ campaign on Sunday, held a presser to spruik on-time train running times on Monday, and announced a potential $440 million worth of upgrades for Sunshine Coast roads on Tuesday, which are dependent on a win at the next election.
On Wednesday, the state government took a break from transport related announcements, but Mr Abbott - speaking to Fairfax radio 4BC - filled the gap.
After joking with presenter Patrick Condren about Brisbane being rated 20th in a most liveable city survey, Mr Abbott returned to the serious business of politicking.
“Only twentieth, Patrick?” Mr Abbott said, after having previously referred to Mr Condren as ‘Steve’.
“I could understand Sydney and Brisbane coming equal first, how on earth could they put Brisbane at twentieth?
“...I tell you what Brisbane does need, Brisbane needs better roads, better transport infrastructure,” he said.
“I know Campbell Newman wants to give Brisbane and Queensland more generally, better transport infrastructure and he is going to find a very strong partner in this Commonwealth government.
“We want to help with Queensland roads, we have committed a billion to the Gateway upgrade, we’ve committed almost $7 billion to various upgrades along the Bruce Highway and you’ll find that more and more of that from the Commonwealth government as years go by.”
Mr Abbott also had some words of advice for fellow politicians, after making a point of “hedging his bets” between Sydney and Brisbane”.
“[The] last thing I want to do is create unnecessary enemies so to speak,” he laughed.
“ No unnecessary enemies should be the motto of all sensible politicians.”
