Burleigh MP Michael Hart calls for investigation into Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3A, alleges ‘grubby deal’
The latest in the Gold Coast’s light rail battle - Burleigh MP Michael Hart has called for an investigation into a “grubby deal” made for Stage 3A.
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AN INVESTIGATION is needed into the “financial impact” of Light Rail Stage 3A and several other projects, Queensland Parliament has heard.
Burleigh MP Michael Hart has accused the government of attempting to “benefit their union mates” and called on the Auditor-General to investigate the project after it was revealed contract conditions had changed last week.
A Bulletin report on Tuesday revealed the 6.7km Broadbeach to Burleigh stretch of rail was facing delays after the state government admitted it was yet to sign a contract with John Holland Group, the firm selected in 2020 to build it.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey confirmed the delay would “impact the project’s initial timelines and final budget”.
Mr Hart has now accused the state government of making a “grubby deal” with the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) to apply a “pattern bargain” to the conditions.
Pattern bargaining is when a union uses an improved deal with an employer as a precedent to get the same or better contracts with future employers.
Mr Hart said: “Make no mistake, this is an attempt to expand pattern bargains to all government projects to the benefit of their union mates.
“The project has not been signed off. It has been delayed. The business case has been done. It has been fully costed. Now the government is changing rules to aid their union mates.”
He added he had written to the Auditor-General to ask for an investigation.
Mr Bailey said Mr Hart was “desperate to shift attention” from a Bulletin interview last week.
“Michael Hart is desperate to shift attention off his extraordinary gaffe on the weekend that public transport would be obsolete in five to ten years and that we’d all be catching planes instead,” Mr Bailey said.
“We’ve been up front with the community in stating the final negotiations to build the next stage to Burleigh are taking longer than preferred, but we’re still aiming for work to start this year.
“Those negotiations are proceeding under Queensland’s improved procurement rules that require contractors delivering major projects on behalf of the government to create secure local jobs and use local contractors, manufacturers and suppliers of goods and services as much as possible.”
He said earlier this week negotiations with John Holland Group were ongoing.
The rail line is expected to take about three years to build and at one point was expected to open in 2023.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate announced on Tuesday ratepayers will not cough up “a single cent more” to cover cost blowouts despite his long-term support of the $709m project.
Council has consistently put up 11 per cent of the cost of each stage of light rail, and the federal government 22-38 per cent.
The state government paid almost 49 per cent of the costs to build Stage 1, 64.3 per cent for Stage 2 and 50 per cent of Stage 3.
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