· Hobart City Council joins Launceston City Council in backing Liberals’ 4 lane Midland Highway
· Premier must rule out abandoning consultation process with councils if he doesn’t get his way
· For economic, safety and strategic reasons, we need a 4 lane Midland Highway
Support for the Liberals’ policy of a four lane Midland Highway is growing, and I welcome last night’s decision from the Hobart City Council to adopt a four lane Highway as its preferred option.
The Council’s decision was in response to a motion from Hobart City Council Alderman, and endorsed Tasmanian Liberals’ candidate for Denison, Elise Archer.
Both the Hobart City Council and the Launceston City Council are now right behind the Liberals’ call for a four lane Midland Highway.
Our plan shows the vision and leadership that Tasmania has been lacking from the Labor Government over the past 11 years. It will deliver better economic outcomes, make the road safer and give Tasmanians the national-quality highway they deserve.
Premier Bartlett said he will consult with councils and take their position to Canberra and fight for funding. Now that two of the six councils involved are supporting the Liberals’ position, rather than the Premier’s position of an inferior 2+1 highway, the Premier must rule out scrapping the idea if he doesn’t get the result he wants.
There is no doubt Tasmanians need and deserve a four lane Midland Highway. Even the Government says that heavy vehicle traffic will increase by 70% and passenger vehicle traffic by 40% on our major roads, like the Midland, yet they are doing everything they can to block upgrading the Midland to four lanes for political reasons.
It’s not good enough and it’s time the Government put aside its petty, short-term politics and looks to the long-term needs of Tasmanians.
Jeremy Rockliff MP Shadow Minister for Infrastructure
