Queensland's deputy premier says Infrastructure Australia's decision to back two major Queensland transport projects ahead of Cross River Rail is politically motivated.
Jackie Trad criticised the independent statutory body's decision to list Brisbane Metro and the Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgrade ahead of Cross River Rail, which the Queensland government considers to be the state's number one infrastructure priority.
"We dispute Infrastructure Australia's assessment - the same transport modelling that was used for Brisbane Metro was used for Beerburrum to Nambour was used for Cross River Rail," Ms Trad told ABC radio on Tuesday.
"It's the same modelling, it's the same maths; Infrastructure Australia is just choosing to assess them differently and I say it's because they're playing to the tune of their political masters."
The Brisbane Council's $944 million metro project is listed as a high priority project, putting it in pole position to secure federal funding, while the $722 million Beerburrum rail link is listed as a priority project.
Both projects have the support of Liberal National Party figures, with Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, the federal infrastructure minister, praising their inclusion.
The Labor-backed $5.4 billion Cross River Rail is still listed as a high priority initiative, however, Infrastructure Australia last year criticised its business case and called for a new one to be drawn up.
Ms Trad said the state government has already provided ample information to support the project, and warned delays would cost taxpayers.
"If we wait until 2030 our population in southeast Queensland will have again increased and the cost of building the project when Infrastructure Australia says we should build it is an additional $1 billion," she said.
IA boss Philip Davies said the rail duplication had "national significance" for both freight and passengers, and that Brisbane Metro was the best short-term solution for the city.
"It's really making the best of the existing transport system in Brisbane," he told ABC radio.
"This isn't a competing project with Cross River Rail, this is very much a complementary project and the planning takes that into account with interchanges between the bus and the rail network in the CBD."
"No one project is going to support the growth of any one of our cities and we need to have a whole portfolio of investments."
He said the priority listing of projects was not a guarantee of federal funding.
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