‘Weaponising fear’: Politicians descend on city after Downer rail jobs bombshell

On the eve of the federal election, the state Transport Minister has visited the Downer train factory in Maryborough to address concerns of major job losses.

Maryborough LNP MP John Barounis and Qld Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg at the Maryborough Downer rail factory on Friday following reports of 100 job losses.

State politicians descended on Maryborough on the eve of the federal election after bombshell claims that 122 jobs would be lost at the city’s Downer rail factory before Christmas.

On Thursday, it was revealed that of about 525 Maryborough jobs, 35 would be lost by June and 86 others would go before the end of 2025.

An internal memorandum from Downer detailed a number of work packages concluding in the coming months.

In addition, a diesel tilt train overhaul work package was “definitely rejected by the QR board in March 2025,” according to the memorandum.

The memorandum said that meant Downer was proposing to reduce the number of roles at the Maryborough factory.

In response to a query from the Fraser Coast Chronicle on Thursday, Downer confirmed the potential for redundancies.

“Due to a reduction in the expected volume of work at our Maryborough facility, Downer has commenced consultation with our workforce regarding potential redundancies,” a spokesman said.

“No final decision has been made, and we continue to explore opportunities to fill the gap in work, in order to ease any impact on our people. We will continue to engage openly with our people on the matter.”

An updated response later in the day sought to preclude the state government from any blame for the expected redundancies.

“There has been no change to any Queensland government contracted work with Downer that impacts our current workforce in Maryborough,” a Downer spokesman said.

“Our work on the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program is continuing as expected and we look forward to working with the Queensland government on potential future opportunities.

Maryborough LNP MP John Barounis and Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg at Maryborough's Downer rail factory on Friday, May 2.

“The consultation we have commenced with our workforce specifically relates to the cessation of a contract with a private freight operator,” the statement said.

“We want to confirm no final decision has been made and we continue to explore opportunities to fill the gap in work in order to ease any impact on our people.”

As LNP Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien campaigned to retain his seat just a few kilometres away, state Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg was at the factory slamming suggestions the job losses were because of the LNP state government as “lies”.

Maryborough LNP MP John Barounis, elected in October over incumbent Bruce Saunders, was also at the factory.

“Yesterday in parliament we saw a disgraceful attack from the Labor Party, who sought to weaponise workers’ fear, saying that workers would be laid off here on site as a consequence of the Queensland government’s decisions,” Mr Mickelberg said.

He said he wanted to make crystal clear that it was the government’s objective to protect every train worker in Maryborough, and that the government remained committed to building 65 new trains in the city ahead of the Olympic Games.

“That commitment remains as strong today as it was before the election,” he said.

“We also want to ensure that rail maintenance here in Maryborough continues for many, many years into the future.

“Downer made it very clear yesterday in a statement that was released that this decision and this engagement they have had is in relation to their private sector contracts outside of the Queensland government arrangements, and we make very clear that we will work with Downer to ensure these jobs are protected.

“We want to ensure that train manufacturing and train maintenance here on the Fraser Coast remains for many, many years to come and I’m not going to standby and take the Labor Party weaponising workers’ fears for political gain.”

Mr Mickelberg said the government would continue to fight for jobs in the city.

He said it was disappointing to see the issue raised “in the way that it was”.

Former Maryborough Labor MP Bruce Saunders with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Downer train factory.

In regard to the QR Board rejection of Downer’s proposed overhaul package, Mr Mickelberg said the government had made no decision as to the future of any maintenance programs.

He said Queensland Rail had made a decision as to the tender that was put to them, with the view that it did not present “value for money for the taxpayer”.

“But it’s important to note that there are many other packages of work that will also need to be considered and have been considered in the past and work is going on here right now,” he said.

He said he understood the board had been in discussion with Downer, but that “wasn’t a decision of the Queensland Government”.

“We’ve made it very clear we are happy to work collaboratively to explore other opportunities to ensure jobs are safe here in Maryborough.

“But what I won’t do is accept the weaponisation of fear for political gain and that is what we have seen in the last two days in the Queensland parliament.

“I want to reassure every single worker who works here at this facility and all the jobs that are reliant on this facility more broadly across the region that our commitment is rock solid.”

Bundaberg Labor MP and Opposition spokesman for manufacturing Tom Smith outside Maryborough's Downer rail factory on Friday.

Upon leaving the Maryborough factory Mr Mickelberg walked past Labor spokesman for manufacturing, Bundaberg MP Tom Smith, who was waiting for media to talk about the Downer redundancies.

He said that was a result of a “direct decision” by the LNP not to continue the pipeline of works the Labor state government committed to.

“(The) $160 million commitment to ensure the overhaul of the diesel tilt trains would be done onsite here in Maryborough guaranteeing jobs for those onsite, has now been scraped,” Mr Smith said.

Mr Mickelberg rejected that claim during his visit and said any decision would go to a Cabinet subcommittee for consideration.

Mr Smith accused Mr Mickelberg of trying to “hoodwink people” by suggesting QR was a “private company”.

“It exists under the Queensland parliament legislation,” he said.

“When did Brent Mickelberg know that 122 workers would be marched through the gates at this facility?”

Mr Smith said any suggestion it was not the decision of the LNP was an “outright lie”.

It comes after Manufacturing Minister Dale Last told parliament on Thursday morning the 525 jobs were safe.

He also mentioned the Torbanlea train facility currently under construction, which will build the 65 new passenger cars.

“We have said right from day one that those jobs that are attached to this new train manufacturing facility are secure,” he said.

“We need those jobs and the opportunities, the opportunities that come with this new facility in terms of the skills and for those young school leaders down in that community.”

On April 7, the government announced Gold Coast-based company ADCO received a $120million contract to build a new rail maintenance building at Ormeau to maintain the trains built at Torbanlea.

The 20,000 sqm rail maintenance Ormeau building would support more than 100 jobs during construction and near 140 jobs when operational.

Originally published as ‘Weaponising fear’: Politicians descend on city after Downer rail jobs bombshell