Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs Speaking to journalists at lunchtime on Wednesday, Mickelberg refused to reveal further details about the claimed delays and cost blowouts.Loading“I have a detailed breakdown, and I’m not going to share that detailed breakdown because it may jeopardise contract negotiations and I’m not going to put … the Queensland taxpayer in a position where we’re going to pay more to a contractor than we otherwise need,” he said.But he suggested the Labor federal government should chip in to help cover the billions of dollars in “hidden” costs the LNP government has claimed to have uncovered.“If [federal Infrastructure Minister] Catherine King wants to commit additional funds to Cross River Rail, I will welcome it with open arms,” he said.The government said its predecessors had “hidden” $5 billion in costs that included integration works to connect the tunnel with the existing rail network, stabling to park the trains, a new signalling system, buses to carry passengers while stations and tracks were being built, and additional maintenance equipment.Mickelberg said the tunnel itself would ultimately cost $10.5 billion – a figure that included private refinancing payments and maintenance over 25 years.“Any engineer will tell you that when you look at a project, you need to look at it from cradle to grave,” he said.Opposition transport spokesman Bart Mellish, the former transport minister, accused Mickelberg of “cooking the books”.“No government, business or person has included the cost of maintenance for the life of an asset when calculating the cost to build the project,” he said.“It’s also concerning that the new government isn’t committed to a 2026 opening of the project.“Also, adding the cost of buses to be used across the whole of south-east Queensland to the project is laughable.”The Cross River Rail Authority referred questions about the project’s budget and timeline back to Mickelberg’s office.Cross River Rail, from Dutton Park to Exhibition Station.Credit: Cross River Rail/Queensland GovernmentIt was not the first time the LNP had accused Labor of hiding Cross River Rail costs.Last month Premier David Crisafulli claimed the Miles Labor government secretly signed off on a $494 million Cross River Rail “blowout” just before it entered the pre-election caretaker period. Deputy Opposition Leader Cameron Dick said the money had been set aside in case of cost overruns in a “high-cost, high-inflation environment” and accused Crisafulli of putting half a billion dollars at risk by declaring the government’s hand in future negotiations.With Cameron AtfieldStart the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
