Asbestos discovery fuels claims of political interference

The company that won billions of dollars in work from Labor cancelled a scheduled visit from Liberal National MPs – but the minister has hit back at a “slippery” claim.

The Downer rail manufacturing facility in Maryborough

The discovery of asbestos at a company that won billions of dollars in contracts from the state government was used to cancel a scheduled visit from Opposition MPs – fuelling questions about political interference.

Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie, manufacturing spokeswoman Deb Frecklington and transport spokesman Steve Minnikin were due to attend Downer’s Maryborough train manufacturing facility on August 14, but the visit was axed at the last minute when a Downer worker phoned to say asbestos had been discovered in the boardroom.

Ms Frecklington in Parliament questioned whether the dangerous material had been found, and accused Manufacturing Minister Glenn Butcher of thwarting the LNP’s attempt to visit a private company.

“They (Downer) discovered asbestos in the boardroom so that meant that they were unable to meet with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, the shadow minister for transport and myself on a prearranged visit to Maryborough,” she said.

“I do hope the asbestos has been cleaned up, I hope that all of the workers at Downer are safe, and I do hope that it was not the big hand of the Miles government trying to stop us visiting Downer.

“This minister is under the pump and that is why he did not want us to go into Downer.

“Imagine the poor person at Downer who had to make the call to us and say, we’ve found asbestos in the boardroom so you can’t come, the minister has said you can’t come.”

Deb Frecklington at Queensland Parliament. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Mr Butcher dismissed the suggestion and accused Ms Frecklington of being slippery with the truth.

“I’ve actually encouraged the LNP to visit Maryborough to see the difference it makes when you prioritise Queensland workers over overseas jobs, so if the LNP had a visit planned, it’s only because I called them out about never having been there,” he said.

“I was not aware of the asbestos issue. As a strong advocate for worker safety my whole life, it’s my expectation health and safety is prioritised and that any concerns are appropriately resolved.”

A Downer spokesman did not comment on the cancellation of the LNP’s visit, but said small traces of non-airborne asbestos had been found in a small number of areas at its Maryborough service delivery centre.

“The workplace was immediately isolated, site access controls deployed and a range of control measures implemented to protect the workforce, including thorough cleaning by a qualified hygienist,” he said.

“Downer has informed our customers of the situation, and we are actively working to mitigate any impacts to delivery.”

In June 2023 Downer won a $4.6bn contract from the state government to build 65 trains at a new Torbanlea train manufacturing facility.

The company has benefited from the state Labor government’s resurrection of train manufacturing in Maryborough.

Originally published as Asbestos discovery fuels claims of political interference