Federal LNP Senator Paul Scarr has helped speed up a commitment for a much-needed upgrade to the Coopers Plains railway crossing, after calling out the actions of the Federal Labor member for Moreton, Graham Perrett.
In the lead up to the state election, Mr Perrett used a speech in the Lower House to falsely accuse Senator Scarr of using taxpayer funds to print a flyer.
The flyer criticised Labor for failing to upgrade the railway crossing, despite years of promising to fix it.
However, Senator Scarr told the Upper House that Mr Perrett’s claims about using taxpayer funds were false and Mr Perrett’s attempt at a ‘gotcha’ speech was in fact a trainwreck.
“That is untrue. It is false. It is incorrect. It’s misleading the parliament,” Senator Scarr told the Upper House.
“In fact, I’d used my own funds. The reason I used my own funds was I was so frustrated that, over so many decades, nothing had been done about the Coopers Plains railway crossing.”
Senator Scarr added it was extremely pleasing that just days after distributing the flyer, Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey announced a commitment of $66 million during the state election campaign to fix the railway crossing.
“What I care about is the Coopers Plains railway crossing getting fixed. There have been numerous near fatalities at that site, and Labor haven’t lifted a finger to fix it in the 25 of the last 30 years they have been in power in Queensland.
“Now they’ve committed $66 million. But let’s wait and see, Mr Graham Perrett, member for Moreton – my local member, who tipped a bucket on me and misled the Lower House.
“Let’s wait and see if they actually fix it. If they don’t fix it before the next state election, expect LNP Senator Paul Scarr to dip into his pocket again and raise the same issue, to fix it.”
Make no bones about it – the flyer that was distributed (attached) seems to have prompted Labor into action.
