Gold Coast underfunding will cost dearly
Gold Coast can expect little from a State Budget that will hit the hip pocket of all Queenslanders.
Opposition Leader and Member for Surfers Paradise, John-Paul Langbroek said the Treasurer had simply recycled spending announcements for the area.
“I’m disappointed the Bligh Government hasn’t done more to protect local jobs and create new ones.
“Most of the goods in this budget for the Gold Coast are just recycled announcements, such as the Reedy Creek/Robina police station.
“We desperately need funding for more police on the beat. The state police to population ratio is 1 officer to every 434 people but we have to put up with 1 officer to every 628 people.”
While some funding has been allocated to Gold Coast projects, Mr Langbroek says it’s just not enough.
“Even with today’s announcement that the Bligh Government will spend $135 million on the Gold Coast rapid Transit project, there’s still a $700 million black-hole in the budget.
“Last month the Bligh Government indicated the project would be bankrolled by private investors.
“However, given Queensland is now $85.5 billion in debt and with no plan to restore Queensland’s AAA credit rating, it’s going to be very difficult for the Premier and Treasurer to find investors.
“I welcome support for Gold Coast Rapid Transit but unless the Bligh Government is willing to come up with more money, it’s very unlikely we will be riding rapid transit any time soon.”
The Opposition Leader is also concerned about the Gold Coast University Hospital.
“The cost has blown out by another $200 million, from $1.549 billion in 2008-09 to $1.762 billion in 2009-10 which puts the total cost of the budget blow-out at $532 million.
“The fact that the Bligh Government underestimated the cost by half a billion dollars raises serious questions about their ability to manage the state’s finances and plan for the future.
There is no money in this budget for the Gold Coast Hospital’s main campus at Southport. Given the severe shortage of beds on the Coast, I would have hoped there would be money in the budget to address immediate needs.”