$75 million for Townsville Port

SEPTEMBER 4, 2018: I was very pleased to stand with Prime Minister Scott Morrison today at the Townsville Port to announce that $75 million in funding will flow to the Townsville Port Expansion project to boost the port’s capacity and provide jobs and financial benefits into the future.The project will support 345 jobs and $380 million in benefits over the next 40 years for the city’s economy.It also fulfils the call issued by LNP candidate for Herbert Phillip Thompson and myself for Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor (TEARC) funding to be redirected for the port’s dredging.I raised the issue with Scott Morrison when he visited Townsville recently, and as the then Treasurer, he gave me an assurance that TEARC funding would be redirected to Townsville projects.Now as Prime Minister, Scott Morrison has wasted no time in making this happen.This will provide a huge tourism boost for Townsville as larger cruise ships can be hosted due to a deeper port channel, and I expect that will have flow-on benefits for the Whitsundays as cruise ships continue on their journey south.The expansion will also allow cargo ships double the size to enter the Port, and that not only reduces the cost of imported goods, but importantly will take more than 8,000 B-Double trucks off the Bruce Highway.All in all, the benefits for the north are huge, and I look forward to a further funding commitment of TEARC funds for other Townsville projects.