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Politics
Fraser Barton

Qld government labels infrastructure cuts 'outrageous'

Annastacia Palaszczuk says the funding cuts to Queensland infrastructure projects are outrageous. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)

Plans for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics will be significantly impacted by federal Labor's "outrageous" infrastructure cuts, the Queensland government says.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles will lead a delegation to Canberra to convince federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King to "go back to the drawing board" over proposed project cuts.

Queensland was not the worst hit when funding for 50 projects around the country were slashed following a federal infrastructure review.

Nine projects valued at $363 million have been axed in Queensland, including six road upgrades and two commuter car parks.

Funding for upgrades to the Bruce Highway and the Gateway motorway have also been scaled back.

However, the Queensland government is still not happy, saying plans for the 2032 Olympics will be impacted by the cuts.

"We have a long and detailed program to deliver the 2032 Games," Mr Miles said.

"These decisions will clearly have an impact on them.

"(It will) have a significant impact on transport, planning and on the projects that we can deliver in that timeframe."

One of the five projects on hold - a Sunshine Coast rail extension to Maroochydore - had been pitched as a key Games project.

Mr Miles said the delegation would try to make the commonwealth reverse the infrastructure cuts due to Queensland's "unique circumstances".

The lobby group will include mayors as well as agriculture, freight and farming delegates when it meets with with Ms King in the next fortnight.

"This is causing serious concern in communities and industry right across Queensland," Mr Miles said.

"Our focus is on convincing the commonwealth not to accept the proposals in this review and instead look at ... our population growth, our hosting of the 2032 Games as ... reasons why they should reject the findings of this review and fund the projects that Queensland wants."

Treasurer Cameron Dick described the cuts as a "body blow" for what the state government said was the country's fastest growing but most decentralised state.

"Queensland has not and will not co-operate with the federal infrastructure minister's cuts," he told parliament.


"My message to the federal minister is simple - do not try to rope us into your bad decisions."

Mr Dick earlier tweeted: "Treat Queensland more like Qantas and less like Qatar".

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she had made it clear to the commonwealth for months that Queensland would not accept cuts to existing projects, even writing to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday.

"The funding cuts announced by the federal government to Queensland infrastructure projects is outrageous," she told parliament.

"I want to make it very clear again for Minister King that this infrastructure review does not have our co-operation."

AXED QUEENSLAND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS:

* Beenleigh Station commuter car park, Beenleigh.

* Emu Swamp Dam supporting infrastructure, Stanthorpe

* High Road and Easterly Street, Waterford Upgrade

* Kenmore Roundabout Upgrade

*Loganlea Station commuter car park, Loganlea

*Mooloolah River Interchange Upgrade (Packages 1 and 2)

*New England Highway Upgrade Cabarlah

*Nicklin Way-Third Avenue Connection, Caloundra

*Tenant Creek to Townsville Corridor Upgrade - Dingo Park Road Intersection Upgrade

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