Labor and LNP in Maryborough to discuss train manufacturing job cuts

The blame game over job losses at Maryborough’s Downer factory escalated on Thursday with a media op between the former Qld Premier and his Labor colleagues outside the office of Bruce Saunders’ LNP successor.

Bart Mellings and Tom Smith join Opposition Leader Stephen Miles for a media conference outside John Barounis' office on Lennox St, Maryborough

Former Queensland Premier Steven Miles has led his Labor colleagues in a publicity stunt outside Maryborough’s recently elected LNP MP in a fresh war of words over rail job cuts.

It comes after more than 100 job losses at Maryborough’s Downer were announced.

The former Labor Government had in its last term promised Maryborough would be at the centre of its $7.1 billion Queensland Train Manufacturing Program.

Rumours of pending Downer cuts and frustration that the majority of construction jobs for the Torbanlea factory had so far gone to out-of-town workers staying at a FIFO-style camp were believed to have contributed to Mr Saunders’ state election loss.

However, he has been quick to label the blame for the recently announced cuts on the LNP.

The now Opposition Leader Steven Miles, who together Shadow Transport Minister Bart Mellish and Bundaberg MP Tom Smith also gathered in front of Maryborough MP John Barounis’ office on Thursday morning, said workers at Downer felt “let down” and the community was “really hurting following the news Gold Coast-based company ADCO received a $120m contract to build a new rail maintenance building at Ormeau.

“The people of Maryborough trusted David Crisafulli, and at the first opportunity, he has let them down,” Mr Miles said.

“The fact that 122 highly skilled workers will lose their jobs is bad enough, but the cover-up makes this even worse.”

The Downer manufacturing facility

Mr Miles said the Crisafulli government had two shareholding ministers, leaving them “personally responsible” for the cuts.

Mr Mellish claimed the LNP and Mr Barounis were “hiding behind Queensland Rail” after they reportedly rejected a contract that would have kept 100 people working in Maryborough.

“They are saying it was their soul decision (Queensland Rail),” Mr Mellish said.

“I can say as a former Transport Minister that this is absolutely not the case.

“The current minister would have his fingers all over this. He needs to come out and say what advice he got from QR, what decisions did he make, what briefs did he sign off in relation to rejecting this job offer?

“For the government to claim that Queensland Rail makes their own decisions and that their hands are tied on this is completely false.

“It’s like saying the government doesn’t run trains.”

Not long after the Labor press conference, the LNP held its own.

At Maryborough’s Downer factory, Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg was back for the second time in a week with Mr Barounis to “reassure workers that the Queensland Government will do whatever we need to protect their jobs”.

State member for Maryborough John Barounis and Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg at Maryborough's Downer rail factory.

“This fear campaign that is being mounted by the Labor Party and Steven Miles is without merit,” Mr Mickelberg said, promising that workers across the Fraser Coast would be supported and protected by the current government, and said its commitment to rail jobs in Maryborough was “rock solid”.

“I understand Steven Miles has been spreading fear again here in Maryborough this morning, and it’s simply unacceptable for them to weaponise the fear of workers.”

Mr Mickelberg followed up claims of contract rejection by saying an unsolicited proposal was put forward to the QR board by Downer, however, the board did not proceed with the proposal as it “didn’t represent value for money for the taxpayer”.

“That does not mean there is not other opportunities to work together,” he said.

He also refuted claims made by the Opposition Leader that he’d had any role in the decision or knowing of the outcome since March.

“For the party that suggests they are for the worker, to seek to weaponise the worker’s fear says everything Queenslanders need to know about the Labor Party.

When asked whether the government had power in preventing the cuts, he said government would continue to work collaboratively with Downer to protect the jobs.