MEDIA RELEASE - Labor Listening to Local Community on M1 Congestion
17 Apr 2016
THE HON BILL SHORTEN MP
LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
MEMBER FOR MARIBYRNONG
JIM CHALMERS MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES AND SUPERANNUATION
SHADOW MINISTER FOR SPORT
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR TRADE, INVESTMENT AND PRODUCTIVITY
MEMBER FOR RANKIN
DES HARDMAN
LABOR CANDIDATE FOR FORDE
LABOR LISTENING TO LOCAL COMMUNITY ON M1 CONGESTION
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was in Logan City today to hear first-hand from local community leaders and business representatives about congestion on the M1.
The Opposition Leader, alongside Federal Member for Rankin Jim Chalmers and Labor’s Candidate for Forde Des Hardman, met with Logan City Mayor Cr Luke Smith and Logan Chamber of Commerce President Bill Richards in Loganholme.
The M1 is the busiest road in South East Queensland, carrying an average of 145,000 vehicles a day, of which forty per cent are commercial vehicles. At times, there are up to seven kilometre traffic queues for up to four hours during weekday afternoon periods and weekends.
Congestion in the Brisbane-Gold Coast Corridor is highlighted in the 2015 Infrastructure Australia Audit as a problem and one expected to worsen significantly over the next fifteen years.
Bill Shorten said “I’m pleased I could spend time in Logan today with the local community and Jim and Des, hearing first-hand the issues with congestion on this key stretch of freeway”.
Jim Chalmers added “Having lived on or near the M1 for most of my life I know how important it is to the community and how frustrating it can be to sit in barely-moving traffic”.
Des Hardman said “I appreciate Bill coming to our local area so I could bend his ear again about the M1 and to give him access to community leaders who want us all on the same page”.
Labor has a strong record of investing in the M1, with $312.5 million worth of upgrades to the road paid for and completed when we were last in Government.
In contrast, the Liberals have talked a big game about investment in the M1, but still have not contributed a single cent for upgrades.
TUESDAY, 12 APRIL 2016
MEDIA CONTACT: MITCHELL WATT (CHALMERS) 0427 532 705