ONE year on from the election that swept David Crisafulli into office, Ipswich leaders are sharply divided on whether the new government has delivered – or simply delivered excuses.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding says the change has been “night and day” compared to the past, praising what she calls a genuine effort by the LNP to listen and act.
“The Queensland Government have shown the effort to listen to our community and work collectively to address the issues that are most important to our city and residents,” Mayor Harding said.
She pointed to long-awaited wins for Ipswich, including $73.6 million in State funding for Ripley and Fischer Rd upgrades – costs that would have otherwise fallen to local ratepayers.
“After years of advocacy for greater investment to support the growth of Ripley Valley, the Crisafulli Government has finally delivered,” she said.
She also praised the Government for taking long-ignored issues seriously, including launching a long-fought public health inquiry into waste odours plaguing Ipswich suburbs.
“Council and the community fought for years for this inquiry, and I’m relieved it’s finally happening early in this term,” she said.
But Cr Harding said there’s still “a mountain to climb”, particularly with roads and transport still lagging behind the rapid population growth.
“With less than seven years to the 2032 Games, we’re yet to see the major infrastructure investment needed to truly connect our region,” she said.
“We’re proud Brighton Homes Arena remains part of the Games, but Ipswich deserves a bigger slice of the Olympic legacy.”
But not everyone is convinced the new Government is getting it right.
Bundamba MP and Shadow Minister for Energy, Lance McCallum, didn’t mince words – calling the Crisafulli Government’s first year one of “cuts, chaos and broken promises”.
“Queenslanders were promised accountability and action,” Mr McCallum said.
“Instead, we’ve seen a government more obsessed with headlines than hard work.”
He accused the LNP of neglecting Ipswich and repackaging Labor-delivered projects as its own.
“New schools like Collingwood Park, and health upgrades at Ipswich Hospital and Ripley were delivered under Labor – and now the LNP are trying to slap their names on them,” he said.
“Meanwhile, Ipswich still hasn’t seen a single new major project.
“We’re the only SEQ city left off the Olympic infrastructure map.”
Mr McCallum also slammed the LNP’s energy policy, warning that scrapping Labor’s Renewable Energy Targets would hit households and jobs.
He warned that Ipswich’s explosive growth was outstripping planning and investment, leaving residents to pay the price.
