Deputy Premier Jackie Trad needs to resign, and the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority be scrapped, if the government wants to salvage the fiasco that Brisbane's $5.4 billion Cross River Rail risks becoming.
If the Palaszczuk government has any regard for the interests of Queensland taxpayers – and still aspires to retain government at the next election – Ms Trad must resign as Treasurer and Deputy Premier, CFMEU state secretary Michael Ravbar said today.
Mr Ravbar told a lunchtime rally of thousands of building workers that the delivery of the long-stalled projected had been hamstrung by bureaucratic bungling and a woeful lack of oversight.
"Right now we have more energy and political capital being spent on Jackie Trad's $700,000 investment property than we do on the largest infrastructure project in Queensland," Mr Ravbar said.
"The CRRDA, along with Ms Trad, is simply not up to the task of managing a project that will deliver real benefits for Queensland workers, for business, the residents of South East Queensland and indeed taxpayers in the state," he said.
"As we've seen with troubled projects like the Townsville stadium, the government has proven itself incapable of delivering on its own stated policy aims when it comes to local procurement, local jobs, training and value for money."
"We simply can't afford a $5 billion dollar flop that runs years over schedule and budget, with the only real benefits being delivered to the profit margins of contractors and consultants."
"This is not a project that should be rushed through, governance and effective oversight be damned, to meet a political timetable."
"The workers, the construction sector suppliers, and the taxpayers of Queensland deserve better," Mr Ravbar said.
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