Cross River Rail: Thousands spent on branded workwear for employees
Tens of thousands of dollars have been spent on branded workwear for employees of Brisbane’s huge Cross River Rail project, with the Opposition questioning if it is money well spent.
QLD Politics
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The delivery authority responsible for the state government’s $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project has forked out tens of thousands of dollars on branded workwear for its employees.
New figures uncovered in a parliamentary question on notice reveal the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority has spent at least $34,000 on “corporate wardrobe items” since June 1 last year.
The CRR Delivery Authority has insisted the clothing pieces are not items such as suits and ties as they defended the spend amid attacks from the LNP that the government had its priorities wrong.
A spokesman for the CRR delivery authority said that while engaging directly with the public and when on construction sites, they required their employees to wear “Cross River Rail-branded workwear”.
This includes high-vis personal protective equipment, which they say is required under the law to “assist with identification”.
“This is standard among private and corporate construction projects,” the spokesman said.
“No one is having their suits and ties bought for them.”
The response to the question on notice shows $32,730 was spent on the clothing in 2019-20 and $1710 in 2020-21 – as well as about $880,000 in both financial years on marketing and communications expenditure.
Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington accused the government of having their priorities wrong. “The LNP will rein in Labor’s wasteful spending with a laser-like focus on building a stronger economy and securing jobs for Queenslanders,” she claimed.
It is understood all delivery authority staff are expected to take a turn manning information stands or are encouraged to attend worksites, where they are required to wear the clothing – with more than 100 events a year. Construction works on Cross River Rail kicked off in September last year, with the project due to be completed by 2024.