Bundamba MP Lance McCallum is calling for urgent action on several major issues affecting Ipswich residents, including a pedestrian crossing at South Ripley, rising fuel costs and planned staffing cuts at local train stations.
Mr McCallum said a petition has been launched in the Queensland Parliament seeking a safe pedestrian overpass or underpass across the Centenary Highway at South Ripley, where increasing numbers of families and students are travelling between residential areas, schools and the Ripley Town Centre. He said more than 500 signatures had already been collected and described the need for safer access across the highway as urgent.
The MP also raised concerns about fuel prices, saying they had become one of the biggest affordability pressures facing households. He welcomed moves by the Albanese Government to release more fuel into supply but said Queensland had not matched the level of action taken by other states. Mr McCallum said Labor’s Affordable Transport Bill, which would cap fuel price rises at no more than five cents per day, offered one practical response to the crisis.
He warned the impact of fuel costs was spreading beyond motorists, with tourism operators, emergency services and health providers all feeling the pressure. Mr McCallum said some operators were already reviewing contingencies as fuel prices continue to climb.
Mr McCallum also criticised proposed staffing cuts at Queensland Rail stations, which he said would affect the Ipswich line from May 1. Under the changes, he said stations including Goodna, Ebbw Vale, Dinmore, Redbank, Riverview and Springfield would lose staff hours, with some stations left unstaffed on weekends and others only staffed until early afternoon on weekdays. He said the cuts would reduce safety, limit access to station facilities and leave fewer staff available to assist commuters and school students.
Describing the changes as a backward step, Mr McCallum said the government should reverse the decision immediately. He said residents deserved safe, staffed and functioning public transport services rather than reductions in essential frontline support.
Mr McCallum also took the opportunity to wish students, teachers and families well ahead of the end of term one and the Easter break.
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