The Tourism & Transport Forum, Australia’s leading tourism and transport advocacy group, today urged the Turnbull Government to invest in critical public transport projects, including Brisbane’s Cross River Rail, in next week’s Federal Budget.

TTF Chief Executive Margy Osmond said Treasurer Scott Morrison must allocate funding for projects that improve national productivity and the liveability of our cities, starting with sufficient public transport capacity to accommodate urban growth.

“TTF has long argued that the Cross River Rail is the number one public transport project for Queensland,” Ms Osmond said.

“Brisbane needs this project to help accommodate growing demand for public transport, and to help relieve mounting pressure on the road network as the city continues to expand.

“The Queensland Government is committed to Cross River Rail, and we urge the Federal Government to also show that it is serious about investing in the infrastructure that can help secure sustainable prosperity for South-East Queensland.

“The Cross River Rail project will create jobs, improve transport connectivity and help to make Brisbane and South-East Queensland better places not only to live, but to visit.

“With new projects such as the Queen’s Wharf Casino, the Howard Smith Wharves Redevelopment, Brisbane Quarter and the Brisbane Live entertainment venue, it is critical that infrastructure is developed in tandem with sufficient public transport capacity.”

Ms Osmond said the Federal Government must also utilise this Budget to take advantage of the potential of the tourism and transport sectors to turbocharge Australia’s visitor economy by boosting the nation’s marketing budget, improving visa competiveness and establishing a bidding fund for international business events.

“As the national economy continues to transition from the end of the mining boom to a diversified services-based economy, investing in tourism and transport as the key growth areas of the future should be a no-brainer,” Ms Osmond said.