RAIL - Back On Track Forum

Couriermail --> Editorial: Is transparency too much to ask? $

QuoteQueenslanders have again been forced to fight for answers about the government's cost management on major projects despite Premier Steven Miles pledging to promote transparency from his refreshed cabinet.

The latest increase to the problem-plagued Coomera Connector stage one was revealed last week – a staggering $864m.

Transport Minister Bart Mellish had repeatedly declined to be upfront with Queenslanders and reveal when he knew about the soaring cost and, critically, whether a March 4 press release trumpeting it as a $2.1bn project was accurate.

On Sunday he acknowledged through gritted teeth it was one of the projects facing significant cost pressures and revealed the cost increase was provided to him in January. ...

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1774488656088269132?s=20

Couriermail --> Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to 'work cooperatively' with states, but refuses to commit $

QuoteDespite visiting Queensland yesterday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has refused to commit to chipping in more cash to save under-pressure transport projects that have blown-out by billions of dollars.

Queensland's blown-out major road and rail projects are under a cloud after the federal government repeatedly refused to commit to chipping in more cash to save the under-pressure plans.

With costs on the Coomera Connector skyrocketing by more than $860m and the estimated price of the Sunshine Coast Rail rising several billion dollars, the Miles Government has been publicly pleading with the federal government to go 50:50 on the increased costs.

But during a visit to Queensland on Tuesday Prime Minister Anthony Albanese refused to commit to funding the major blowouts – and would only say he would "work cooperatively" with the states. ...

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1775208227090960393?s=20

Couriermail --> Housing crisis Qld: $92bn mega projects put new housing in jeopardy $

QuoteQueensland's critical housing shortage is being exacerbated by the state Labor government's centrepiece $92bn Big Build pipeline, the nation's peak body for builders has warned.

Master Builders Association says the mega pipeline of projects across health, energy and transport over the next five years was making high-rise residential projects economically unviable due to a lack of workers and supply constraints.

A new report by the peak body has also warned the state's pro-union "best practice industry conditions" — which apply to major government projects — would be a challenge, as it ties up labour on builds that take longer to complete due to falls in productivity.

These constraints mean despite the state government's pledge to alleviate the housing and homeless crisis, Queensland is set to fall thousands short in its joint quest with the federal government to build 246,000 new homes in the state by mid-2029. ...

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1777391834819612683

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1777811691268718965


I was in a union until I retired (NTEU).  The problem with a lot of BPICs now is that they are adding huge costs to all projects. We are getting to the point where a lot of things are simply not going to be built because of the inflated costs.

I have friends and family members who work in construction or other trades on major infrastructure projects. Considering the huge expectation to work overtime (50-70 hour weeks are normal), plus the often grueling, physical nature of the work, I can totally understand the need to incentivise people to want to come to those jobs.

Considering it's also normal practice to do HUGE amounts of work during public holiday periods (look at the recent track closures for CRR), you can see why you'd have to give people a good incentive.

Labor costs have increased 96% thereabouts since 2019. One of the factors driving the project cost increases.

I think the deals for the unions are getting a bit too generous now. It is not economically sustainable.

Having ~ 2x cost blowouts consistently on what are already expensive infrastructure projects will result in a few reactions by Gov't:

1. Delaying projects
2. Changing the nature of the project (e.g. replacing a Priority A busway with a Priority B transitway or perhaps just bus lanes)
3. Cancelling projects
4. Not starting new ones

Members here have put together a long infrastructure wishlist, mostly consisting of transit in Priority A corridor and some Priority B corridor projects. These will have to be reworked or retimed (or both) if infrastructure costs remain consistently high.

Good news though is that improving PT isn't all about big-ticket infrastructure. Boosting service, small-ticket, low or no infrastructure improvements are also possible.

It would be desirable to come to a position where our projects look more like those run by the WA PTA in Perth. Although the Joondalup line was staged, the Mandurah line was not and neither was the line to Perth Airport (which is also tunnelled for most of the length). New Morley-Ellenbrook line is also not staged.

Quote-When it reaches 35C, or 29C and 75 per cent humidity, in South East Queensland, work should cease
-Any employee required to work in the rain will be paid double time
-Workers on commercial construction works site will be paid a scaled site allowance of up to $11 per hour for projects worth more than $1bn
-A worker using their own mobile phone or can be paid an allowance of $100 per week
-A worker using an 8m ladder will be paid an additional amount per hour
-Workers employed at Mt Isa, except those at Mt Isa Mines, will be paid an additional amount
-There will be an Annual Picnic Day for metal and engineering workers, and anyone who has to work will be paid double time and a half

$5200 per year? But the phone might only cost $1000 and the best $95 Telstra plan is $1140 for the year.
Doesn't' add up.

Quote from: timh on April 10, 2024, 10:17:44 AMI have friends and family members who work in construction or other trades on major infrastructure projects. Considering the huge expectation to work overtime (50-70 hour weeks are normal), plus the often grueling, physical nature of the work, I can totally understand the need to incentivise people to want to come to those jobs.

Considering it's also normal practice to do HUGE amounts of work during public holiday periods (look at the recent track closures for CRR), you can see why you'd have to give people a good incentive.

Holiday and Over Time is paid as Time and Half and Double Time for that reason.  This is double dipping.  And yes I am required to do both 1 or 2 times a year...or take flex-days.

https://x.com/9NewsQueensland/status/1778698236913418298

Couriermail --> Leaked Best Practice Industry Conditions document reveals huge cost of Qld renewable energy projects $

QuoteA secret document reveals the shocking cost that a union deal will cost taxpayers in the state's multibillion-dollar pipeline of renewable energy projects.

Queensland's multibillion-dollar pipeline of renewable energy projects could cost taxpayers even more than the eye-watering costs predicted, with the state government set to apply a stand-alone Best Practice Industry Conditions policy on the sector.

The Sunday Mail has obtained a leaked draft copy of a planned BPIC for renewable energy projects – which has not been made publicly available – being circulated among the industry which details the conditions and wages set to be applied to the projects. ...

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1779194976246870228

Would be interesting to investigate if BPIC like policy existed in WA and was a key point of difference in explaining unit cost differences between the two states.

Couriermail --> Mick de Brenni doesn't understand why BPIC policy is controversial $

QuoteThe state government minister who championed the installation of pro-union best practice industry conditions (BPIC) says he doesn't understand why the policy is controversial.

Energy Minister Mick de Brenni's comments came as he confirmed a planned BPIC specific to renewable energy projects was "very close" to being finalised, in a move that would affect the state's $62bn project pipeline.

A draft copy of the renewable energy BPIC circulating among the industry — and seen by The Courier-Mail — revealed conditions and wages similar to construction and civil projects set to be applied to the renewable energy sector. ...

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1779626315097976941

https://x.com/DebFrecklington/status/1780385769686966457

^ Historical and factual. Also privatised the Gladstone Power Station under Premier Wayne Goss, the largest power station in QLD in 1994.

 

Current iteration of Labor haven't privatised anything.

Campbell Newman's government (of which Frecklington and Crisafulli were part of) attempted to privatised $37bn of assets in 2015.

Party of Bjelke-Petersen and Newman shouldn't be throwing stones from that glass house of theirs.

https://x.com/StevenJMiles/status/1781457757264371833

^ Every state in Australia is going to make the same claim. They cannot all be right 

It also means less competition, which generally means higher prices.

Understanding Autarky With Real World Examples
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/autarky.asp

QuoteThe cost of producing in a closed economy must be covered by the price charged for the good. If the cost is higher relative to other nations, then the autarky price is a dead loss for that national economy.

"dead loss" = Paying more than you needed to.

What if the workers are spending money in their economy versus Indian workers spending money in their economy?

https://x.com/CampbellNewman/status/1781804287749980287



 

Gains from Trade- Basics

If the local price is higher than the world price (or in this circumstance, the price to produce in another non-QLD state), you are paying more to procure essentially the same thing. This reduces what goods or services the gov't can buy with its budget.

Basic explanation


More technical explanation


So important is this principle of benefits from trade between states, it is enshrined in s.92 of the Australian Constitution, which bans the imposition of interstate tariffs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_92_of_the_Constitution_of_Australia

QuoteOn the imposition of uniform duties of customs, trade, commerce, and intercourse among the States, whether by means of internal carriage or ocean navigation, shall be absolutely free.

Yeah but if they spend locally you get the multiplier effect.

We can collect income tax from rail workers in Maryborough, and we can collect gst when they spend their income.


This recovers extra money we spent on the trains, and goes into government coffers.

We can't collect gst or income tax from Indian workers.

Quote from: GazzaWe can collect income tax from rail workers in Maryborough, and we can collect gst when they spend their income.

Disagree. State collection of income taxes and GST is also banned under s.51(ii) of the Australian Constitution. This provision also blocks favouring one state over another.

'we' in your sentence 'we can collect...' means Australia, not specifically Queensland.

The local content policy is directed at QLD specifically, not other states and not Australia generally.

The benefits do not flow directly to QLD via the two routes you have outlined above, but rather the Commonwealth in general, where they benefit all states and territories.

Same with GST, which is allocated by the Commonwealth Grants Commission on a needs and fairness basis.

If, for arguments sake, the train order was fulfilled in Perth instead, the GST and income taxes would still end up in the same ATO bank account as a scenario where the trains were made in QLD.

It's therefore likely not the case that commonwealth grants of income tax or GST would be higher to QLD if trains were manufactured in QLD versus say Melbourne or Perth.

FWIW, I think Australian made is worth it, but Qld made is not necessary.

Couriermail --> Brisbane Cross River Rail CFMEU workers to strike from Tuesday in bid for $240k entry-level pay $

QuoteCFMEU workers on Brisbane's $6.2bn Cross River Rail project are expected to walk off the job on Tuesday following unmet demands for huge pay rises that would see an entry-level construction worker earn $240,000.

Six months of negotiations between the militant union and major contractor CPB Contractors are tipped to reach a climax as CFMEU workers launch four days of protected industrial action.

The union had demanded some workers receive pay rise of about $2000 a week – despite the taxpayer-funded Cross River Rail already blowing out by $1bn.

Details of the stoppage, including the expected six underground, station and rail sites affected, have not been revealed.  ...

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1784984610755187050

These sort of actions is just guaranteeing the demise of the Labor Govt come October IMHO 

Quote from: #Metro on April 22, 2024, 08:59:33 AMDisagree. State collection of income taxes and GST is also banned under s.51(ii) of the Australian Constitution. This provision also blocks favouring one state over another.

That section doesn't ban state collection of income taxes, it just bans (as you note) favouring one state over another, which would be the feds taxing people in one state more or less than another.

States used to levy income tax, but haven't done so after WW2.

Couriermail --> Minister refuses to intervene in 'thuggish' CFMEU action $

QuoteA high-stakes stalemate between the militant CFMEU and major Cross River Rail contractor could continue for days, with the state government refusing to intervene in the dispute over wages.

Cross River Rail construction sites were brought to a standstill on Tuesday as the CFMEU launched strike action over unmet demands from CPB Contractors to deliver a near 30 per cent wage increase for workers.

Sites were shut down by the CFMEU and work on the $6.2bn project – which has already blown out by $1bn – forcibly halted.

Protests are expected throughout the week, according to a CFMEU notice sent to CPB Contractors. ...

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1785353189908414804

Couriermail --> Editorial: Labor must stand up to union mates $

QuoteBased on its track record, it is unlikely the state Labor government will be willing to pick a big fight with the CFMEU, writes the editor.

Labor governments always find it hard to deal with union demands, particularly Labor governments led by a premier who is in the job only because union bosses gave them the nod, which is the case with most.

But surely they should make some effort to consider the greater good before every time caving into the latest above-the-odds demands from unions, particularly from those whose tactics oscillate between militant and criminal. ...

https://x.com/9NewsQueensland/status/1785583416294924669

CFMEU thugs at it again. Crims

Queensland Parliament Hansard

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/events/han/2024/2024_05_02_DAILY.pdf

Questions Without Notice

CFMEU

Mr MANDER: My question is to the Premier. Did the Premier raise concerns about the rising
militancy of the CFMEU when he met with them on 25 March?

Mr MILES: I thank the member for Everton for his question. I can advise the member for Everton
that our conversation centred largely on how we can ensure state government jobs are good jobs for
Queensland tradies, how we can ensure they are safe workplaces—that tradies come home to their
families at the end of every day—they are well paid, they are training apprentices and they have women
and First Nations people on their workplaces.

On the topic of meetings, I think it would be appropriate if those opposite disclosed whether this
line of questioning was proposed to them in the meeting that they held with CPB lobbyist Scott Emerson
on 21 March. I understand that Mr Emerson is a lobbyist for CPB. He met with the member for
Chatsworth and staff of the Leader of the Opposition on 21 March 2024. We know that from the member
for Chatsworth's publicly disclosed diaries and not from the lobbyist register, because that meeting has
not been disclosed on the lobbyist register as is required by law. There are some important questions
here on integrity for those opposite to answer. Why did this Liberal aligned lobbyist not disclose this
meeting?

Mr Saunders interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Member for Maryborough, you are warned under the standing orders.

Mr MILES: Was it to hide the fact that it was to brief the opposition on the line of questioning that
they should pursue today on behalf of CPB? Will those opposite rule out having illegal meetings with
lobbyists? Will those opposite disclose the content of that meeting as required by Queensland's tough
integrity laws? It is time for those opposite to hold themselves to the standards that they purport to hold
us to when they come in here. If members meet with lobbyists, those meetings should be disclosed on
the lobbying register: the purpose of those meetings; the client that they are meeting—

Mr Dick interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Deputy Premier, you will direct your comments through the chair.

Mr MILES: And they should acknowledge the potential conflict in bringing this line of questioning
to the House.

Opposition members interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Thank you, members. I will wait for silence

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1787170206122741982

Couriermail --> Community Safety Plan the final straw for crossbenchers $

QuoteThe state government has been accused of ramming through laws without proper community consultation in the lead-up to the state election – with a landmark crime plan the final straw for its opponents.

This month's behemoth 181-page Queensland Community Safety Plan was opened for public submission for just 16 days, despite it including significant changes to weapons licensing and the controversial change to detention as a last resort.

It was the final straw for the LNP and Katter's Australian Party, which separately called for the government to extend consultation. ...

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1792237835606700172

Couriermail --> Migration to blame for road congestion, premier declares $

QuoteMigration is to blame for Queensland's clogged roads and stretched public transport network, Premier Steven Miles has sensationally declared.

Doubling down on his call for the federal government to slash overseas migration numbers by half, Mr Miles told The Courier-Mail the record high numbers of international arrivals to Queensland was "directly contributing to congestion".

State government analysis found net overseas migration contributed to 167,000 of all trips on Queensland's road, bus, rail and active transport network in 2023, a 177 per cent increase from the 60,000 trips in 2019. ...

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1792953115274359161

So he will spend $10 billion but the train will still come every 30 min and we will still be behind Perth.

Perth has trains every 15 minutes to all stations except Thornlie on weekends.

Just think about it. They are running 2x frequency on a weekend compared to Brisbane.

Government Statement

Overseas and interstate migration contributes to 229,000 extra daily trips on Queensland roads, bus, rail and active networks

22 May 2024

> https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100383

Quote from: #Metro on May 22, 2024, 07:17:33 AMSo he will spend $10 billion but the train will still come every 30 min and we will still be behind Perth.

Perth has trains every 15 minutes to all stations except Thornlie on weekends.

Just think about it. They are running 2x frequency on a weekend compared to Brisbane.

https://x.com/MelbOnTransit/status/1793131919556972821

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1793721747751182340

 

ABC News --> MP Ros Bates referred to ethics committee after accusing Health Minister Shannon Fentiman of inciting violence against her following 'cross your legs' comment

QuoteA senior Queensland opposition MP has been referred to a powerful parliamentary ethics committee after refusing to withdraw an accusation a minister had incited violence against her.

Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates on Thursday morning told parliament a video posted on social media yesterday by Health Minister Shannon Fentiman had "unleashed a wave of cyberbullying".

The clip showed an exchange between the pair while Ms Fentiman was responding to a question about the availability of maternity services in Queensland.

Ms Bates said the response to the viral video had been "horrific". ...

  

Couriermail --> How this 50c fare policy reshapes the election $

QuoteGood policy is good politics – and for struggling Premier Steven Miles this one is a masterstroke.

For six months his government has nibbled at the edge of the cost-of-living crisis through politically-driven energy rebate handouts and ineffective transport and car registration freezes.

This announcement by Mr Miles and Deputy Premier Cameron Dick – one of the government's best communicators – will have a tangible effect on household budgets and get more commuters to consider swapping the car for public transport.

More importantly for the government, it could pay a significant electoral dividend five months out from a state poll Labor is widely expected to lose. ...