Opposition leader Tim Nicholls guarantees TIDS funding at Western Queensland Local Government conference

In his second visit to western Queensland in a fortnight, Mr Nicholls announced a guarantee that there would be no changes to the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme if he were to attain government.

Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said last week that Campbell Newman’s government, in which Mr Nicholls was Treasurer, “slashed roads funding by $600 million, including a 37 per cent cut to TIDS”, long seen as a vital road program by local government in Queensland.

The Palaszczuk government committed an additional $30 million per year for TIDS, which increased the ongoing base investment to $70 million per year, and that commitment was extended for a further three years in last year’s budget.

Mr Nicholls said the LNP knew how important transport and infrastructure funding was, and how local councils rely on TIDS grants from the state to build roads and employ locals.

It’s a key policy in the party’s New Deal for Regional Queensland campaign being rolled out in advance of the upcoming state election, which Mr Nicholls talked to showgoers at Longreach about following the shadow cabinet meeting in Emerald.

Infrastructure and jobs are front-and-centre of the campaign, in which the LNP has said it will restore Royalties for the Regions, spend $100 million on a Get Queensland Working Plan, and cut red tape on small business by 20 per cent over six years.

“We need to build things again, we need roads upgraded, we need dams for water security, agricultural industry expansion and better government services.”

Partnerships with the federal government would be sought for things such as a coal-fired power station in north Queensland, a 10 year action plan to improve the Bruce Highway, and a comprehensive tourism plan, including free WiFi hotspots.

The Newman government’s cuts were brought up by Barcoo Shire Council mayor Bruce Scott, who said the centralisation that took place saw many public service jobs lost in the bush, accelerating the pain of the drought and spending cutbacks.

Mr Nicholls said they had been necessary, thanks to the “reckless overspending” of the Bligh government, and guaranteed there would be no forced redundancies if he were to attain government.

Senator Barry O’Sullivan attended the first morning of the conference and noted the moves by his federal colleagues, Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce and Fiona Nash, to decentralise government departments.

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