Auditor-General blasts Labor’s transport planning

South-east Queenslanders are unnecessarily sitting in worsening traffic gridlock because of the Bligh Labor Government’s failure to plan and manage infrastructure properly, a damning Auditor-General’s report has found. State Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek said the Auditor-General’s report was the second report released this month condemning Labor’s inability to plan projects properly.

“Labor’s record on infrastructure is a long litany of delays, drop-offs, cost blow-outs and complete white elephants,” he said.

“Earlier this month, the Auditor-General blasted the Bligh Labor Government’s poor management of health services and hospital projects.

“Now today the Auditor-General has blown the whistle on Labor’s transport failures in a report that is even more scathing than the health report.

“This Auditor-General’s report is just the latest example of a Labor Government that wastes taxpayers’ money on ill-conceived and badly scoped schemes that fail to deliver anything but debt.

“When Labor’s track record on delivering infrastructure on time and on budget is so bad during the boom times, how can Queenslanders have any confidence they will be able to deliver in the tough times?”

Shadow Transport Minister Fiona Simpson said the Auditor-General’s report blasted the State Government’s lack of leadership, “systemic weakness” in planning procedures, the use of out of date transport documents and plans, and inconsistencies in data collection and reporting.

“This report confirms the Bligh Labor Government can’t plan, can’t manage and can’t deliver infrastructure,” she said.

“These planning failures directly impact on south-east Queenslanders’ lifestyles, as they are forced to sit unnecessarily in ever worsening traffic congestion on choked roads.”

Ms Simpson said the Auditor-General had told the Bligh Labor Government to learn from the Brisbane City Council how to run a transport system properly.

“While the Auditor-General condemns the Bligh Labor Government, he praises the Brisbane City Council’s ‘sound policy framework’ and says there ‘is an opportunity for Government departments to leverage off BCC’s systems and expertise’,” Ms Simpson said.

“It is embarrassing for all Queenslanders that our State Government has dropped the ball so badly on a key issue like the management of our transport network.”

Mr Langbroek said the Bligh Labor Government could not afford to ignore the Auditor-General’s recommendations.

“The LNP strongly believes transport projects should be planned properly ahead of time not just when a crisis hits to ensure taxpayers’ money is used efficiently and to achieve the best outcomes for commuters,” he said.