The Mayors of South East Queensland have converged on Canberra hosting virtual meetings with Government and Opposition representatives ahead of the upcoming 2022 federal election.
The delegation, on 9 and 10 February, has been undertaken virtually following public access restrictions announced by Parliament House.
Council of Mayors (SEQ) Deputy Chair and Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio said the delegation ensured the South East remained a top priority for both major parties ahead of the upcoming election.
"South East Queensland is already home to one in seven Australians. Within 20 years South East Queensland will be the size of Greater Sydney today, and this growth has been further accelerated by increased interstate migration," Mayor Antonio said.
"Population growth and traffic congestion will continue to be one of our region's greatest economic, social and environmental challenges. Without significant investment in regional infrastructure our transport networks will struggle to cater for this growth let alone the additional load the Brisbane 2032 Games will bring."
Mayor Antonio said the Mayors had discussed key priorities including finalising and growing the SEQ City Deal, funding for the region's transport and freight networks, and the need for investment towards the region's environment, waterways and lifestyle.
Council of Mayors (SEQ) Treasurer and Redlands Mayor Karen Williams said CoMSEQ had started the bidding process for the 2032 Olympics with the very clear goal of putting a deadline on building the roads, bridges and rail needed to support the region into the future.
"This whole exercise was always about building a better-connected region, and about protecting and growing our way of life," Cr Williams said.
"Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympics Games will be a truly regional Games and so we need investment to spread across the region and beyond to ensure our communities can get where they need to go safer and faster.
"Securing this infrastructure will require support from all levels of Government so in the lead up to this year's election we're keen to partner with the Federal Government to secure a positive legacy for our communities."
The Council of Mayors (SEQ) will meet with government and opposition representatives including:
- Hon Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister of Australian and Minister for Public Service
- Hon Paul Fletcher MP, Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts
- Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Defence and Member for Dickson
- Dr Jim Chalmers MP, Shadow Treasurer
- Hon Catherine King MP, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Development & COS
- Terri Butler MP, Shadow Minister for Environment and Water, and Josh Wilson, Shadow Assistant Minister for the Environment
- Andrew Giles MP, Shadow Minister for Cities and Urban Infrastructure; Shadow Minister Assisting for Immigration and Citizenship, Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs
- Hon Trevor Evans MP, Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction
- Hon Jason Clare MP, Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Regional Services, Territories and Local Government
- Ted O'Brien MP, PM Special Envoy for Olympics
- Hon Kevin Hogan MP, Assistant Minister for Local Government
- Hon Scott Buchholz MP, Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport, Member for Wright
- Hon Chris Bowen MP, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy
- Hon Julie Collins MP, Shadow Minister for Agriculture.
The Council of Mayors (SEQ) represents 11 Councils and more than three million residents of South East Queensland. Its membership includes Brisbane, Ipswich, Noosa, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba Councils.
