Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has repeatedly said the 50/50 cost-sharing agreement between Queensland and the federal government on a range of Olympic-related events remains in place. However, the agreement does not include the metro, and even the extent of Gabba’s reconstruction is disputed.
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Schrinner will lay out his support for the Metro funding at a business breakfast hosted by the Brisbane Airport Corporation on Wednesday.
The first two sections of the Metro network follow the South East Busway from Eight Mile Plains into Brenda, South Bank, King George Square and on to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. There will also be a link to the University of Queensland.
Last month, Schreiner proposed Extend the tube from Coorparoo to Old Cleveland Road – Queensland Government’s Eastern Busway project now complete – Repeating an idea first proposed in 2018.
Separately, Schreiner reiterated his call on Tuesday for the federal and state governments to allow the 500-bed quarantine center near Brisbane Airport to be used to help with the housing crisis.
The Mayor took some crisis accommodation teams on a tour of the “99% complete” Pinkenba facility.
Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the Pinkenba quarantine facility could help alleviate Brisbane’s housing shortage.
“As Christmas approaches, I don’t think I’m the only one frustrated that there doesn’t seem to be any progress on how to use it,” he said.
“It’s a taxpayer-funded, taxpayer-owned facility that serves a better purpose than sitting there empty.”
The federal government has been asked to comment on its possible use ahead of a natural disaster.
Parliamentary Opposition Leader Jared Cassidy has questioned why the Liberal National Party government has not delivered on the housing strategy it promised in 2019, or the homelessness strategy it voted on in May.
