Minister Dale Last talks Downer job losses at site of Torbanlea factory

Queensland’s Minister for Manufacturing has been grilled on job cuts in Maryborough amid what he describes as a “Labor scare campaign”.

Manufacturing Minister Dale Last and Maryborough MP John Barounis talk to members of Downer at the Torbanlea train manufacturing factory, set to be complete in late 2026.

The Minister for Manufacturing has hit back at what he describes as “scare tactics” from Labor in the fallout of more than 100 jobs being lost at Maryborough’s Downer Factory.

Manufacturing Minister Dale Last was at the Torbanlea train yard site to announce construction was “moving along”.

The Torbanlea site is part of the Queensland Government’s commitment to build 65 new six-car passenger trains at the purpose-built manufacturing facility.

However, much of the focus was on Downer’s announcement earlier this month that they were considering more than 100 redundancies at the Maryborough factory.

Mr Last said he expected 200 blue collar and 100 white collar jobs to be available once construction on the Torbanlea site was completed, and he was quizzed on whether those jobs would be filled by former Maryborough workers.

“The minister for Transport and Downer are engaged in ongoing conversations,” Mr Last said.

“Those jobs and job security in Maryborough are absolutely crucial for us.

“There will be follow-up meetings this week regarding those jobs.”

The completion of the facility is on track, according to Mr Last

He went on to say the Crisafulli government was committed to the project, and claimed it had “blown out” to $2.4bn under the previous Labor government.

The pushback of a “Labor scare campaign” continued, with Mr Fray providing comments on the last two weeks in Maryborough.

“The jobs attached to this project behind me are secure,” he said.

“This community is not about to entertain any scare tactics by these Labor members or the Leader of the Opposition.

“These jobs are real, they are permanent, (and) they are well-paying.”

Manufacturing Minister Dale Last and Maryborough MP John Barounis talk to members of Downer at the Torbanlea train manufacturing factory, set to be complete in late 2026.

A full-scale replica of one of the new passenger trains to be built at the facility has been completed in Maryborough, and is ready to be reviewed by the community and stakeholders.

Mr Last, joined by Maryborough MP John Barounis, confirmed the carriages would be assessed by community members, particularly disabled people, in the coming weeks at Geebung in the northern suburbs of Brisbane, saying the trains are an “exact replica” of what will be produced at the Torbanlea site.

Originally published as Minister Dale Last talks Downer job losses at site of Torbanlea factory