(1) Did he state at a conference on the Gold Coast on 14 July 2000 that the Melbourne to Brisbane railway had the capacity to proceed without government funding.

(2) Has the federal government been approached for financial assistance for the project; if so, what was the nature of the approach.

(3) Will the government provide financial assistance for the project.

(4) On what basis were members of parliament and local government leaders appointed by him to a Task Force Committee to examine the Melbourne to Brisbane railway.

(5) Who was appointed to the Task Force Committee.

(1) On 14 July 2000 I announced that the pre-feasibility study conducted for the Australian Transport and Energy Corridor Limited into the proposal to build an inland railway between Melbourne and Brisbane had concluded that minimalist options demonstrated strong financial viability and could be implemented on a no cost to Government basis.

(2) and (3) The federal government contributed $300,000 towards the pre-feasibility study. The federal government is also to contribute $30,000 to a market study of the Toowoomba/Emerald/ Gladstone section.

(4) and (5) A Committee comprising the Hon Mal Brough MP (Chair), Mr Tony Lawler MP, Mrs Kay Hull MP and Mr Ian

Macfarlane MP provided the federal government with initial advice on the inland railway proposal.