Qantas agrees to expand aircraft maintenance program in Queensland

More than 100 jobs will be created throughout Queensland following a deal between Qantas and the Palaszczuk government.

Qantas will create more than 100 new jobs in Queensland. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Matray

The Palaszczuk government may have failed to convince Qantas to call Queensland home, but it did manage to secure the consolation prize of at least 100 new maintenance jobs.

Treasurer Cameron Dick said it was a big ask to get Qantas to uproot and move its headquarters from Sydney to Brisbane, but an agreement for the airline to expand its maintenance operation in Queensland was a win.

The details of the in-principle agreement, including how long it would run for and cost to taxpayers, were not revealed.

A smiling Treasurer Cameron Dick announces 100 new Qantas jobs. Picture: Seven News

Mr Dick said there would be at least 100 new full-time jobs, although the finer points of the in-principle agreement with Qantas had not been finalised, and they would be divided between Cairns, Townsville and Brisbane airports.

“We put in, what I think, was a very compelling offer to Qantas about their headquarters, but … it was probably a big ask for Qantas at a difficult time in the company’s history, and with the pressure, they were facing as a company, to relocate 3500 people from NSW to another place,” Mr Dick told reporters.

“We have been able to secure heavy maintenance jobs for Qantas in Queensland and some additional jobs as well.

“We now work through the finer detail with Qantas, but there will be at least an additional 100 jobs that will be added to the heavy maintenance workforce here in Queensland.”

Qantas will expand its maintenance program in Queensland, creating more than 100 new jobs. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Those jobs will be permanent full-time jobs, high-quality, high-skilled jobs.”

Mr Dick said the government had already shown a commitment to aviation in Queensland by investing $200m last year with Bain Capital to retain Virgin Australia’s headquarters in Brisbane.

Mr Dick said last October that the investment would comprise a 10 per cent equity stake, a loan and other financial incentives.

He said on Thursday it was in the interest of both the states and the nation to have a competitive domestic airline market.

“Our commitment to Virgin was to ensure there were two national airlines because we’ve seen what the consequences of the collapse of Ansett had, and that led to monopoly pricing,” Mr Dick said on Thursday.