Paul Pluta and Queensland Rail Thread

[ozbob]

Glad you are on board Paul.  Welcome .. 

[ozbob]

[Gazza]

A thread to keep up with Queensland Rail and Paul Pluta

CONTENT WARNING: Strong Language

RAIL Back on Track does not endorse the content of these videos.

Lol forgot about this topic...why so sensitive about the swearing anyway? Are you 11?

[ArchieLuxury]

The 100 Days of the QR "High Level Implementation Plan," "First 100 Days - Fixing the Trains," are well and truly over yet the Trains are worse than ever!!!

I call on the Premier to sack Jackie Trad and Nick Easy.

Future predictions:-
1) Further QR disasters will be blamed on wildlife (use a koala for a really bad stuff up)
2) The Commonwealth Games will be a disaster thanks to QR
3) The ALP will lose the next election thanks to QR

Kind regards

PAUL PLUTA
ARCHIELUXURY
Rail Advocate

[#Metro]

^ we have special thread for your videos

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

[#Metro]

Roma street has a lot of junctions and platforms, of course, so the train must have been going very slowly when it ran the red light.

Simple human error?

[ozbob]

[#Metro]

Boot this operator out the door!

Metro and Keolis got their contracts extended, with more penalties for non performance.

Stop renewing the contract!!

[SurfRail]

I think there is just as much chance of regulatory capture and getting taken for a ride without major reform at the public service level.  Fix that, then worry about who is running the trains.  It probably matters very little if the regulator is clueless.

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

[ArchieLuxury]

Paul Pluta added to QR Wiki page in honour of Whistle blowing
Hello all,
It is a great honour that I am extremely proud of.  I have been added to the QR wiki page in recognition for my work in the QR Rail Fail.
I am extremely pleased that I will go down in history as a true Rail Advocate.  I salute fellow rail advocate Robert Dow.
I would like to highlight the incompetence of the current QR Board and Minister.
I have paid a great price in being a whistle blower and this small piece of recognition means a lot to me.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensland_Rail
QR Rail Fail / Redcliffe Peninsula railway line[edit]
In October 2016 the opening of a new rail line to the Redcliffe Peninsula resulted in the failure of the rail network. 100s of services were cancelled without notice due to a lack of trained drivers and staff. Passengers experienced extended delays and promised services which did not arrive.

Rail advocate Paul Pluta was responsible for embarrassing Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe when Mr. Pluta revealed that he had warned the minister about a driver shortage in early March[15]. This incident made national headlines. Hinchliffe admitted public transport advocate Paul Pluta emailed him in March, warning him. Mr Pluta wrote to the Minister "I'd like to express my concern that Brisbane train drivers and guards are working on average about 30% over time." He also went on to note that if drivers and guards are working significant amounts of overtime, "you are clearly short of drivers or rotting of the system is going on". "I think you will find the over time number is significantly higher since the ALP government was elected," Mr Pluta wrote.


Paul Pluta was also responsible for predicting the Christmas Day cancellation disaster.[16]


Several weeks after the service interruptions, Queensland Rail CEO Helen Gluer announced her resignation from the company, along with chairman Michael Klug.[17]

It was announced on 27 October 2016, that the director-general of the Department of Transport and Main Roads, Neil Scales, would replace Helen Gluer.

An inquiry into Queensland Rail's train crewing conducted by Phillip Strachan was completed in February 2017. The report determined that Queensland Rail had operated for a number of years with insufficient train crews, paying overtime to cover all the scheduled services and had failed to recruit sufficient additional train crew in anticipation of the opening of the Redcliffe line, creating a severe shortfall of train crew resulting in the cancellation of many services. The report blamed Queensland Rail for having an unwieldy management structure that relied on intuition rather than accurate forecasting and a reluctance to share bad news.[18]

[ArchieLuxury]

QR to star in new movie.... ARCHIE LUXURY THE MOVIE
2 hour epic about Rail Advocate Paul Pluta and his life story.  Obviously QR will feature strongly in this movie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k-5ifUFu3E&feature=youtu.be

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

^ Paul the NGR trains were designed and signed off by the former Government as DOO,  non DDA DSAPT compliant.  There have been costs in modifying the end cabs for the guards and drivers but this has nothing to do with the non compliance.  Tall drivers could not see out of the cabs properly for example. The  ' screens ' are just so the guards can see along the train.  This is necessary for safe management.  This project is a major major botch and really needs a commission of inquiry so all true facts and circumstances can brought out into daylight.

Re sectorisation.  The toilet equipped trains will be used not for Caboolture per se but the Sunshine Coast, and the Gold Coast lines.  You are right though abut the ability of the QR properly allocate trains.  I have my doubts.  The NGRs will be rolled out on the Gold Coast first.  Don't forget the stations will have to have extra staffing as well.  Another factor that will initially restrict the operation of NGRs.

No doubt we agree when we say this project is a giant cluster-fuk!

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

^ interesting film footage in this latest from PP.

[techblitz]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/crime-and-justice/youtuber-charged-with-leaking-confidential-rail-fail-document/news-story/109f4dbc6544f9efe5098c4fb71aaf39

[BrizCommuter]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/crime-and-justice/youtuber-charged-with-leaking-confidential-rail-fail-document/news-story/109f4dbc6544f9efe5098c4fb71aaf39

Doesn't say much for government and QR transparency!

[#Metro]

It is understood the CCC has been investigating the Queensland Rail document leaks since last year.

Mr Pluta said he believes the investigation is retaliation for embarrassing the Government.

"I would say this is what happens if you're a whistleblower," he said.

"I have revealed major inefficiencies. I have revealed gross incompetence.

So the minister found out about the report because of Mr Pluta, is that correct?

There is no reason to sign QR's contract renewal for the operation of the SEQ rail network IMHO. Open it up to all fit and qualified.

I don't particularly care if "Perth is a good train operator". Unless you are advocating to sign up TransPerth to run the network, it is categorically NOT a reason to sign up QR again.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/crime-and-justice/youtuber-charged-with-leaking-confidential-rail-fail-document/news-story/109f4dbc6544f9efe5098c4fb71aaf39

[Stillwater]

This whole mess has descended into farce.  Do everything, anything, except get to the bottom of it all and fix the trains - including shooting the messenger.  Nope, no problem here.  Look!  What's that over there?

[Fares_Fair]

Shoot the messenger is alive and well in #Qldpol.
I note that his 'crime' was revealing that he had been summoned to a #starchamber.
https://t.co/VYGuPTm7Ll

[#Metro]

New story at the Australian.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/man-accuses-ccc-of-exacting-government-payback-on-him-for-role-in-queensland-rail-fail/news-story/eff0387c2f22ff2382c9eb8f76ddd284

Mr Pluta, who said he acted as middleman for sources wanting the report publicly aired, is charged with disclosing his pending appearance at a secret hearing into the leaking.

Under Queensland law, the CCC can issue summonses that prohibit a witness from revealing anything about the hearings.

Wow, sounds serious.

[ozbob]

The Australian --> Man accuses CCC of exacting government payback on him for role in Queensland 'rail fail'

A middleman in the leaking of an embarrassing report warning of the Palaszczuk government's 2016 "rail fail'' debacle has been charged with disclosing secret documents.

Self-described rail advocate and professional YouTuber Paul Pluta, 45, has been charged by Queensland's Crime and Corruption Commission after he was summonsed to appear at a "star chamber'' hearing into the leaking.

The leaked government report into Queensland Rail — which warned of a driver shortage that later led to widespread train disruptions in 2016 – exposed inaction to the looming crisis and forced the resignation of transport minister Stirling Hinchliffe.

Mr Pluta, who said he acted as middleman for sources wanting the report publicly aired, is charged with disclosing his pending appearance at a secret hearing into the leaking.

Under Queensland law, the CCC can issue summonses that prohibit a witness from revealing anything about the hearings.

The 45-year-old last night said the charges were "payback'' for embrassing the government.

"This is an administrative technicality that they are trying to get me on,'' he said.

"It is payback because Stirling Hinchliffe lost his job and I made the government look bad.

"They waited until after they got re-elected, and are now settling old scores.

"I can't discuss the hearings, but it is about who provided me with the information and I'm not going to disclose that.

"I am a rail advocate and have long history of pointing-out the short-comings.''

The CCC uses coercive powers – involving possible imprisonment for refusing to answer questions – at its "Examinations''.

Mr Pluta faces up to one year's jail on the charge.

In a statement, the CCC did not name Mr Pluta but detailed the charges.

"A 45-year-old Jamboree Heights man was this morning issued with a Notice to Appear in Court to face a charge of Disclosure of a Confidential CCC Notice (contrary to section 84(2) of the Crime and Corruption Act 2001) following an investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC),'' the statement said.

"The man is expected to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on 14 March 2018.

"The alleged disclosure of the confidential notice relates to the man disclosing to another person his attendance at the CCC for a directed interview in relation to an investigation undertaken by the CCC.

"As the matter is now due to go before the court, it is not appropriate for the CCC to comment further.

"The CCC is an independent agency combating major crime and reducing corruption for the benefit of the Queensland community.''

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> YouTuber charged with leaking confidential 'rail fail' document

COLOURFUL YouTuber Paul Pluta has been charged by the Crime and Corruption Commission with disclosing a confidential document.

It is understood to have followed a CCC investigation into a series of damaging leaks relating to the State Government's handling of Queensland Rail's driver shortage.

The 45-year-old Jamboree Heights man was in 2016 behind the release of a confidential QR report that revealed the rail body was warned about the shortage.

As revealed by The Courier-Mail during the notorious 2016 "rail fail", then transport minister Stirling Hinchliffe said he was only made aware of the existence of the report when questioned by newspaper after it was leaked to Mr Pluta.

"The draft report clearly shows Queensland Rail personnel were aware from as early as January 2016 that there were significant risks attached to multiple projects as a consequence of a shortage of train driver resources," he said at the time.

The report, produced by consultant Indec, was obtained by Mr Pluta and showed demand for drivers was potentially not being met from as early as July 2015.

Mr Hinchliffe later stood down as transport minister over the fiasco.

Mr Pluta also went public with details of the 2013 project deed for the controversial New Generation Rollingstock train-building project, which is running up to two years behind schedule and facing a contractual dispute over the cost of delays.

A CCC spokesman said of the charge: "The alleged disclosure of the confidential notice relates to the man disclosing to another person his attendance at the CCC for a directed interview in relation to an investigation undertaken by the CCC.

"As the matter is now due to go before the court, it is not appropriate for the CCC to comment further."

It is understood the CCC has been investigating the Queensland Rail document leaks since last year.

Mr Pluta said he believes the investigation is retaliation for embarrassing the Government.

"I would say this is what happens if you're a whistleblower," he said.

"I have revealed major inefficiencies. I have revealed gross incompetence.

"For me to fight this (will cost) $50,000 for revealing that QR was lying to the Minister.

"This is how they thank me. It's all payback. I've made them look silly. They are coming after me with a petty administrative rule."

Mr Pluta is to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on March 14.

[ozbob]

New story at the Australian.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/man-accuses-ccc-of-exacting-government-payback-on-him-for-role-in-queensland-rail-fail/news-story/eff0387c2f22ff2382c9eb8f76ddd284

Mr Pluta, who said he acted as middleman for sources wanting the report publicly aired, is charged with disclosing his pending appearance at a secret hearing into the leaking.

Under Queensland law, the CCC can issue summonses that prohibit a witness from revealing anything about the hearings.

Wow, sounds serious.

Yes, this seems to be the basis of the action against Paul Pluta.  Not so much the fact that he leaked the information etc.  Journalists and others do that all the time.  It is the fact it is alleged he revealed the CCC hearing.   Personally I am a little concerned that the hearings can be kept ' secret '.  Not the most encouraging sign in a democracy.

More effort must be put into ' fixing the trains '.  I think we are on the cusp of a transport #GC2018 nightmare ...

One small issue will throw the GC line into chaos ...

And we have the NOT small matter of the pending AHRC determination. 

[red dragin]

Personally I am a little concerned that the hearings can be kept ' secret '.  Not the most encouraging sign in a democracy.

Unless it involves persons that may be at risk of harm if the existence of the hearing is publicly known, then I see it as ok.

[#Metro]

^ is it an offence to even phone a lawyer?

[SurfRail]

No, that would be insane.

http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/qld/consol_act/caca2001219/s84.html

Don't see how Paul has anybody to blame but himself.  The CCC is not used by the government to ensnare "enemies", it acts on its own initiative when it comes to something like this.

[techblitz]

oh if only QR wasn't in government hands.....there would be no need for CCC involvement......one less hassle......especially when we are dealing with an organisation as 'toxic' as QR.
I think given the last 2 years and probably the next two years....its officially time to let this baby go into private hands.......unfortunately it wont happen under the incumbents....sigh.

Kind of ironic isn't it...a small player like paul pluta is swiftly made an example of.....yet when it comes to a multi-million dollar rail stuffup with multiple players involved...its just swept under the carpet....

[SurfRail]

There's a difference between demonstrating suboptimal performance and committing a criminal offence.

In any event, government would still have oversight of and principal funding responsibility for any private operator, so to suggest the CCC wouldn't be all over leaked documents is pretty naive.

[#Metro]

Well a private operator would not be part of the government, publicly funded or not.
As such the report would be a report from a private consultant to a private company, and in doing so thus fall outside of the CCC's purview IMHO.

Still, the company could go after the leaker but I'm not so certain they could go after a third party such as Mr Pluta. And I doubt they could call a "star chamber".

[SurfRail]

Well a private operator would not be part of the government, publicly funded or not.
As such the report would be a report from a private consultant to a private company, and in doing so thus fall outside of the CCC's purview IMHO.

Still, the company could go after the leaker but I'm not so certain they could go after a third party such as Mr Pluta. And I doubt they could call a "star chamber".

It depends on what kind of documents we are talking about.  You are deluded if you think there are no Cabinet protected documents in Victoria concerning the operations of Melbourne's train system, including staffing issues.  The fact a private operator is in the chair doesn't absent the government from the playing field given the enormous significance the rail system has to the proper functioning of Melbourne, especially when the government is paying for the service provided.  Same up here regardless of who runs the things.

In any event, PP has brought this on himself leaving aside the issue of why the CCC was interested in him in the first place.  He didn't have to blab to anybody.  Should have taken and/or heeded proper legal advice.

[#Metro]

Well, apparently the minister didn't know of the Indec report.
If he didn't know about it, then I doubt that cabinet knew about it either.
So, by extension, I doubt it would be cabinet protected if it were a private operator.

In any case, we would not be in this position. A private operator's employees are not public servants and thus wouldn't have been included in Newman's 14 000 public servant purge. Indeed, as a GOC QR employees were technically not public servants either IIRC, but they were converted into such a status by Newman when QR was made an Authority . One can only speculate if this was to facilitate their firing by Newman.

[HappyTrainGuy]

One can only speculate if this was to facilitate their firing by Newman.

What's there to speculate? He publicly stated that he wanted 550 full time equivalent staff gone or roughly 30% of the current workforce at the time. No front line staff cuts were made but many left under redundancy packages. It was expected that about 2000 staff were to be cut but about 1500 staff eventually went out the door with an employment freeze in affect. Staff that included infrastructure/network designers, infrastructure mtce managers, IT, cleaners, apprentices and other roles such as drivers, guards and mtce staff.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> CCC charges YouTube whistleblower over alleged star chamber offence

Rail advocate and controversial YouTuber Paul Pluta has been charged by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

It is understood the charges related to Mr Pluta's required appearance at a CCC "star chamber" hearing in relation to Queensland Rail leaks.

It would be alleged he told another person about the CCC appearance for a directed interview in relation to an investigation undertaken by the CCC.

Mr Pluta, who did not work for the rail operator, had previously spoken out about leaking information, obtained from sources, about Queensland Rail issues.

He made headlines after he obtained a report prepared by consultants Indec, which warned of train crew shortages in a draft report in January 2016, well ahead of the last-minute cancellations in October.

On Friday, Mr Pluta described the case against him as a "witch hunt".

"They've come after me because I made the government look bad," he said.

"Be very careful if anyone else is reading this and they have dirt on the government, just put your head in the sand and ignore it, because whistleblowers become the target."

A Crime and Corruption Commission spokesman said it would not comment specifically on the matter.

But he said the CCC did not discourage people from making public interest disclosures.

"It is committed to the objectives of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2010, and to the protections it provides for those who make public interest disclosures contained within that act and other legislation," he said.

"The CCC is unable to comment further as the matter is now before the court."

Mr Pluta said the case would cost him $50,000 to $100,000 to defend.

"I'm facing bankruptcy," he said.

"I definitely will be seeking a full brief of evidence ... I do not believe I have done anything wrong," he said.

On Thursday, the CCC said a 45-year-old Jamboree Heights man was issued with a notice to appear in court to face a charge of Disclosure of a Confidential CCC Notice following an investigation by the CCC.

Mr Pluta was due to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on March 14.

The charge carries a penalty of up to one year in jail.

[BrizCommuter]

Does anyone know the outcome of the magistrates case?