#FixtheBruce - Top priority for Queenslanders

Earlier this year QFF joined the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ), and other Queensland peak advocacy bodies in urging political parties to commit to a 10-year funding plan with the Federal Government to ‘Fix the Bruce’.

In recent months there have tragically been several more fatal crashes on the Bruce, demonstrating the urgent need to upgrade this critical corridor for Queensland agriculture and regional communities.

Industry is backed by community in highlighting the need to #FixtheBruce with survey results released last week by RACQ showing it as the top priority for Queenslanders when it comes to individual project outcomes to come from Brisbane’s 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

We are now heading into the Christmas holiday period, which is one of the busiest times of the year for Queensland roads, and 2024 is sadly already on track to be one of the deadliest years in terms of road tolls in 15 years.

The Federal Transport Minister recently revealed a five-year Federation Funding Agreement between States, Territories and the Commonwealth to share road crash data which will be used to inform policy decisions and funding allocations.

This is a welcome development in as far as the data presented by the Queensland Government to its federal counterpart is actioned with funding commitments.

There is already a wealth of data on the dangerous state of the road, including its Fatal and Serious Injury (FSI) crash rate, which is three to five times higher than equivalent major highways in New South Wales and Victoria.

The Queensland Government is currently petitioning the Federal Government to reinstate the 80:20 funding split between Federal and State Government funding for works on the road.

The Queensland Government also recently announced that it will re-establish the Bruce Highway Advisory Council and will ensure the body has industry and regional representation.

QFF welcomes this announcement, and we encourage those interested to nominate, given the importance of the Bruce for Queensland agriculture. Transport and infrastructure developments have the potential to unlock the growth of Queensland’s regional industries and communities.

In 2025, QFF and our members will continue to advocate for investment in key infrastructure projects such as the Bruce Highway, Bremer Bridge and the many local roads relied upon by Queensland farmers every day.