Transport Minister’s admission: I misled Queenslanders on train figures

Queensland’s Deputy Premier has expressed confidence in Transport Minister Mark Bailey, despite an admission that a $2.4bn blowout on the state’s flagship train manufacturing program was hidden from Queenslanders. HAVE YOUR SAY

The cost of a flagship train manufacturing program, where trains were being built at Downer in Maryborough, has blown out by $2.4bn. Picture: Lachie Millard

A $2.4bn blowout on the state’s flagship train manufacturing program was deleted from a media release and ­hidden from Queenslanders – despite both Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Transport Minister Mark Bailey admitting they knew at the time the true cost of the project.

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 on Wednesday morning said he “absolutely” has confidence in Mr Bailey.

Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Ahead of his appearance before an estimates hearing on Wednesday morning, Mr Miles refused to tell journalists when he knew about the extraordinary cost blowout of the train manufacturing project.

The Deputy Premier was also quizzed by reporters about processes relating to press releases and whether he checked each release that was circulated in his name.

“In most cases, I would see and check every statement,” Mr Miles said.

“’(But) I’m not going to get into the internal processes of other ministerial offices.”

When asked if he had full confidence in the Transport Minister, Mr Miles responded: “Absolutely.”

The issue arose on Tuesday after the Premier faced a grilling during the first day of budget estimates in state parliament about whether she had seen a version of the media release with the incorrect figure before it was published – a question that she repeatedly did not answer.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles says he ‘absolutely’ has confidence in Transport Minister Mark Bailey. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

The Courier-Mail revealed last month that the cost of the project had spiralled by $2.4 billion, but the media ­release bearing the names of both Mr Bailey and Ms Palaszczuk that was issued on June 30 had used the old $7.1bn figure.

Mr Bailey revealed on Tuesday night that his department had provided his ministerial media team with a draft media release with the true $9.5bn cost on June 19 – a figure that “was removed from the press release (by his office), and no other figure was added in its place”. He said: “I approved this version and it was provided to the Premier’s office.”

The June 30 press release trumpeted three times that the cost was $7.1 billion – including in a direct quote from the Premier.

The $9.5bn figure was meanwhile uploaded to the official government website of the train building program on the same day. It was a fortnight before anyone noticed.

When The Courier-Mail revealed it, Mr Bailey held a bizarre press conference where he said he could not recall when he found out the cost had blown out – but that it had definitely been before June 30.

He denied there was a lack of transparency over the massive cost increase because it was uploaded on “the world wide web – and we basically can’t be more transparent than that”.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk during the state parliament Estimates in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

The Premier later admitted she also knew of the cost blowout at the time of the press ­release being issued – prompting Mr Bailey to say that as “the line Minister” he took “full responsibility”.

He said last night: “As I have previously outlined, an error was made and the $9.5bn figure should have been included in the final contract award media release. I acknowledged responsibility for the error last week, staff were counselled, and both the Premier and I have apologised.”

Earlier in the day, Opposition Leader David Crisafulli grilled the Premier during the estimates hearing about what she knew, and when.

Mr Crisafulli asked her: “As a member of the (Cabinet Budget Review Committee) and Cabinet, can the Premier confirm she would have not only had to have been briefed about it (the cost blowout) but also signed off on that?”

The Premier replied that the $9.5 billion had indeed been signed off by the CBRC and that “the final amount, when it was updated by the department, should have been updated in the press release”.

The Premier was then asked four times if she had seen the press release before it was issued. She only replied: “I will say very clearly that it should have been discussed between the minister and myself … The minister has apologised and I also apologise, and the (media staffers) have been spoken to. There is nothing more to add.”