Mr LLOYD (Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads) (12:43 PM) —Perhaps to facilitate all the roads we could—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Hon. IR Causley)—Does the member for Batman have a similar question?

Mr Martin Ferguson —Just to get all the roads out of the way, it goes to the issue of the Goodna bypass.

Mr LLOYD —Yes, I know it well.

Mr Martin Ferguson —Have any contracts or agreements been entered into with the Queensland government or third parties with respect to its construction? Is it intended that any such contracts be entered into in this calendar year? Secondly, can the minister also explain to the other seven state and territory governments why the Goodna bypass, for example, is to be fully funded by the Australian government yet, for example, the Pacific Highway in New South Wales and the Hume Highway have to be fifty-fifty, the Deer Park bypass has to be fifty-fifty and the huge problem, for example, in South Australia with the northern road has to be shared funding? Why is the Goodna bypass special?

Mr LLOYD —Regarding the F5 question, in relation to AusLink 2, the government has not made any announcements about the priorities of projects. I welcome the massive increase of $22.3 billion in funding up to 2014. That provides us with the opportunity to prioritise projects in consultation with the state governments around Australia. As I said, the 24 corridor studies will form the basis of much of that priority and, at this stage, the government has not announced any of the priorities for AusLink 2.

In relation to the Goodna bypass, there was the feasibility study which was funded by the Australian government—$10 million for the Maunsell study. At this stage, there has not been a contract entered into in relation to the northern options. Obviously, it is early days yet. We are very keen to get on with the construction of the Goodna bypass, and I appeal to the Queensland government to fully cooperate with the Australian government in relation to this project. We are fully funding it, as you make the point. That is a decision of government. We have made that decision and we will fully fund that project. We need the cooperation of the Queensland government in relation to land acquisitions, the moving of services, the calling of tenders and the construction of this project. It is an important project to the people in the region. It is an important project to the local member, Cameron Thompson; it is an important project on behalf of his constituents. He has lobbied very effectively on behalf of his constituents to relieve the traffic congestion in that region, and the Australian government wants to get on with the job of building the Goodna bypass.