Mark Bailey faces media amid calls to resign over hidden $2.4b blowout
Transport Minister Mark Bailey has refused to resign, despite admitting he misled Queenslanders over a $2.4b train cost blowout.
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Transport Minister Mark Bailey has refused to resign from his high-profile portfolio, calling the deliberate omission of a $2.4bn blowout in the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program an “error and a stuff-up”.
Mr Bailey blamed a busy schedule on the day after the final $9.5bn contract was signed with Downer to build 65 trains in Maryborough for not seeing a press release bearing the wrong figure before addressing the media on June 30.
But when questioned why he hadn’t announced the cost of the project had spiralled from $7.1bn – despite knowing it had – Mr Bailey bizarrely claimed it “wasn’t the theme of the day”.
After weeks of dodging questions on the program’s staggering climb in total cost, Mr Bailey late Tuesday night admitted the blowout had been deleted from a draft press release by the Transport and Main Roads Department.
Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie said the government’s “train shame is the end of the line for Mark Bailey as a minister in Queensland”.
“He cannot be trusted to adhere to the responsibilities of Westminster convention in terms of ministerial accountability.
“He has had scandal after scandal.
“The train shame scandal has exposed extreme dishonesty and a cover-up that runs right through to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s cabinet and right to the office of the Premier.”
Overnight, The Courier-Mail reported the $2.4bn blowout had been deleted from a media release and hidden from Queenslanders – despite both Ms Palaszczuk and Mr Bailey admitting they knew at the time the true cost.
After weeks of dodging questions on who knew what about the state’s train manufacturing program’s staggering climb in total cost – from $7.1bn to $9.5bn – Mr Bailey on Tuesday night admitted the blowout had been deleted from a draft press release provided to his office by the Transport and Main Roads Department.
But Deputy Premier Steven Miles said on Wednesday morning he “absolutely” had confidence in Mr Bailey.
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