Brisbane City Council Civic Cabinet Chair of Transport, Councillor Ryan Murphy says Mark Bailey’s departure from the Queensland Cabinet presents an opportunity for the State Government to work collaboratively with Council to deliver better public transport.
In a scathing statement, Cr Murphy said Mr Bailey – who today announced he is stepping down as Transport Minister – had robbed Brisbane residents of new and improved bus services by refusing to provide any extra funding beyond inflation for close to a decade.
“The outgoing Minister’s obsession with starving Brisbane’s bus network stems from his time as a Labor councillor in the 1990s,” he said.
“Mr Bailey’s crass determination to play local politics and refusal to fund Brisbane buses fairly meant, for almost a decade residents missed out on new bus services despite huge population growth.”
Cr Murphy said Brisbane needs the Queensland Government to look beyond a single inner-city rail project and support Council plans for more bus, CityGlider and Metro services.
“We need the State Government to start investing more in Brisbane buses, which carry two-thirds of our city’s public transport commuters,” he said.
“Brisbane City Council believes a new Transport Minister is an opportunity for the State to put the past behind, put politics aside, and work collaboratively to boost bus services and tackle congestion.”
In a statement today, Mr Bailey announced he would step aside, saying it had been a honour and privilege to serve for nearly nine years as a Palaszczuk Labor Government Minister including six years as the longest serving Transport Minister since the 1980s.
“With a new Premier looking to renew the ministry, it is time for me to step aside from Cabinet and support the promotion of one of our many talented younger Labor MP’s,” said Mr Bailey.
“I thank Annastacia Palaszczuk and all my caucus colleagues for their tremendous support since 2015 and I look forward to having more time to work hard for my Miller constituents as their local MP.
“I wish Premier-Elect Steven Miles and the new Cabinet my sincere best wishes and they have my 100% support.”
Mr Bailey confirmed he will be re-contesting the seat of Miller at the 2024 election.
