Howarth Secures Upgrade to Bust Gateway Motorway Bottleneck

Howarth Secures Upgrade to Bust Gateway Motorway Bottleneck

Last night’s Federal Budget contained many big wins for our community, including $800 million towards fixing a significant traffic bottleneck on the Gateway Motorway (Bracken Ridge to Pine River).

Federal Member for Petrie Luke Howarth MP, who has been working to secure funding for upgrades to major roads and highways locally, was thrilled to deliver news of this latest funding win.

“When I came into office six years ago, roads were congested, unsafe and people were sitting in traffic for hours,” said Luke Howarth MP.

“So I made it my priority to secure better infrastructure for our region.

“Fixing the bottleneck near St John Fisher, northbound, will make a massive difference for local motorists and will finally see traffic flowing smoothly through the area.

The funding comes on top of several upgrades to the M1 that Luke Howarth has helped secure, including the massive $1.1 billion Gateway Upgrade North project that was officially completed in March this year.

Other Budget highlights for the Petrie Electorate:

• Small and medium local businesses are benefiting from tax relief legislated by the Government.
• Small and medium local businesses will benefit from the Government’s instant asset write off scheme which enables businesses to invest in machinery and equipment up to a value of $30,000.
• Local taxpayers will benefit from tax relief in 2018-19 as a result of the Government’s enhanced personal income tax plan with 30176 receiving the full tax offset of $1,080.
• Since we came to office the Age Pension has increased by $117.80 for singles per fortnight and by $177.40 for couples per fortnight, benefitting the 19362 Age Pensioners that live in Petrie. The Morrison Government will continue to increase pension payments for the 19362 Age Pensioners in Petrie in March and September each year.
• All local hospitals have had significant increases in funding. Australian Government funding for public hospital services in Queensland has increased by 84% since we came to office (from $2.7 billion in 2012-13 to $4.9 billion in 2019-20). Funding increases at local hospitals available here: www.health.gov.au/health-funding-facts
• The GP bulk billing rate in Petrie is 86%. Last year, over 1,013,175 GP visits were bulk billed in Petrie – 253,466 more than Labor’s last year in Government (2012-13).
• Funding for all 24 public schools in Petrie is increasing by around 50% per student over a decade to 2029. Funding increases at local schools available here: www.education.gov.au/school-funding-estimator
• Local families are benefiting from the New Child Care Package.
• Our first priority is keeping the community safe. In Queensland we have deported over 1108 dangerous criminals since coming to office with 203 deported just last year.
• Local jobs and better services rely on a stronger economy. With over 1.2 million jobs created across Australia, the lowest level of welfare dependency in 30 years and the Budget returning to surplus, this Government has a strong record of economic management.
• To ensure a stronger economy for our future, the Government is fixing the Budget, backing small businesses, lowering taxes, investing in infrastructure, boosting exports and making electricity more affordable.