Kate Jones has been formally appointed as Queensland’s minister for Cross River Rail after deputy premier Jackie Trad was relieved of responsibilities for the project.
Jones, already the minister for innovation and tourism industry development and minister for the Commonwealth Games, was formally appointed minister for Cross River Rail on September 20.
Trad, Queensland’s treasurer and deputy premier, is no longer involved with Cross River Rail, after it was revealed she and her partner had purchased an investment property near the future site of one of the new stations planned for the Cross River Rail route.
While the state’s Crime and Corruption Commission declined to conduct a formal investigation, Trad conceded she had “made a mistake”.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Jones was well qualified to take the project forward in a cabinet role.
“Kate Jones helped oversee the delivery of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games which were labelled the best-ever. Like the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games delivered benefits that will last for decades, Cross River Rail will deliver benefits well into the future,” Palaszczuk said.
Jones said she was pleased to be taking on a project that would transform the entire South East Queensland rail network.
“It will mean more trains and more train stations for south-east Queensland. Queensland is a growing state and we need to ensure we plan and prepare for the future. Part of that is building the public transport we need,” Jones said.