David Crisafulli must build Sunshine Coast Rail to Maroochydore
- Queensland Labor Opposition
- Jan 30
- 3 min read
David Crisafulli must deliver Sunshine Coast Rail to Maroochydore by 2032 as promised
David Crisafulli attempts to wriggle out of iron-clad guarantee
Queenslanders won’t trust a word the Premier says if he backs away from promise
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli’s credibility will be shot to pieces if he doesn’t deliver heavy rail to Maroochydore by 2032.
During the election David Crisafulli was short on detail, but insisted Queenslanders they could trust him because his word would mean something.
Mr Crisafulli promised he would deliver the Sunshine Coast Rail to Maroochydore by 2032 with “no ifs, no buts, no shortcuts”.
During the election campaign, Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said, “everyone knows this is achievable” and industry experts had assured the LNP the heavy rail line could be delivered by 2032.
Three months after winning the election, David Crisafulli and his deputy have walked back their iron-clad guarantee - a guarantee that voters were told would be delivered.
On Wednesday, Mr Bleijie said the LNP was open to other modes of public transport, a statement full of ifs, buts and short cuts.
Meanwhile, the Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg has known it was impossible to build the rail line to Maroochydore by 2032 for more than 10 months, when Transport and Main Roads published comprehensive details of the business case.
That business case explained it would take more than a decade to build the rail line to Maroochydore.
“Delivery of rail between Beerwah and Maroochydore is anticipated to take a decade or more, even when working across multiple work fronts at the same time,” the report stated.
“Without staging, no sections of the rail corridor would be able to be operationalised before this time.”
Over the past three months as Transport Minister, Mr Mickelberg has not explained to Queenslanders how he would deliver the LNP’s major infrastructure election commitment, which was central to their election victory.
Quotes attributable to Opposition Leader Steven Miles:
“Dodgy David and his deputy must deliver Sunshine Coast Rail Line to Maroochydore by 2032 for all the Queenslanders that voted for them because of that election promise.
“On Monday, the LNP said rail was a priority, and by Wednesday it’s just an option.
“David Crisafulli knew he couldn’t deliver heavy rail to Maroochydore by 2032 but he told Queenslanders he would anyway with the intention of misleading them to vote for him.
“He must honour his promise to Queenslanders, or hold himself accountable to breaking that promise.”
Quotes attributable to Deputy Opposition Leader Cameron Dick:
“David Crisafulli and Jarrod Bleijie must deliver on their promises, including their promise to deliver the Sunshine Coast Rail to Maroochydore by 2032.
“The Premier and Deputy Premier knew heavy rail to Maroochydore was impossible to deliver by 2032 and time again they promised they would deliver the project for the Games.
“David Crisafulli and Jarrod Bleijie must explain what advice they relied upon to make this clear and unequivocal promise and which minister will be held accountable if they do not deliver it.”
Quotes attributable to Shadow Transport Minister Bart Mellish:
“Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg must explain how the LNP will deliver heavy rail to Maroochydore by 2032.
“Over the past three months he has not said a single word to Queenslanders about how the LNP were going to deliver this major election commitment.
“Brent Mickelberg must explain what he has done to deliver this project, what advice he has received and why he has not told Queenslanders when the LNP decided the project was no longer an iron-clad guarantee.”
ENDS