Ministerial Statement: Better services and employees protected in NW rail reform

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Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
30/07/2009

Better services and employees protected in NW rail reforms

There will be no forced redundancies and no forced relocations as a result of reforms on the Mt Isa line, Transport Minister Rachel Nolan confirmed today.

Minister Nolan said QR had been improving services on the Townsville to Mt Isa corridor since December but no QR employee would be forced to accept a redundancy or relocation as a result.

"The workplace agreements negotiated between QR and the unions mean employees continue to enjoy employment conditions that are the envy of other workers," Ms Nolan.

"This is in stark contrast to some of the mass sackings we saw in the mining industry - often with only days notice - as a result of the global financial crisis.

"Our commitment to protect workers is rock solid.

"QR continues to employ more than 1,300 people from Townsville to Mt Isa, which pours more than $100 million into the local economy."

Ms Nolan said two changes had occurred on the Mt Isa line to improve services, the first a move of less than container load of general freight from rail to road on 8 December 2008.

"This has been in place for over six months now - there is nothing new here," Ms Nolan said.

"The change involved the removal of only one general freight rail service, which accounted for less than five per cent of rail freight across the whole corridor.

"There has been no impact on the road network, because QR has used spare capacity on existing truck services to carry general freight that was previously on rail.

"The change has also slashed the transit time from Mt Isa to Brisbane from more than 52 hours down to just 31 hours - a big improvement for customers."

Ms Nolan said the reforms had delivered savings for taxpayers of about $10 million per annum.

"I note the LNP is opposing this successful reform, and I challenge them to tell people what they would do differently," she said.

"At the end of the day, this is a successful reform. It has improved the quality of service to customers, saved taxpayers $10 million a year and the workers affected have a rolled gold employment guarantee.

"All affected communities are receiving an equal to or better level of service. And QR tells me that feedback from customers has been really positive," she said.

Ms Nolan said the final stage of this reform was the closure of five freight distribution centres. These centres have not been handling rail freight since December 2008.

Minister Nolan said 13 employees were affected but their employment was protected.

"Again, QR's policy of no forced redundancy or forced relocation applies to these employees. QR is working closely with each and every employee to explore alternative employment options within QR or, if they choose, voluntary redundancy," she said.

Ms Nolan said the second change on the Mt Isa line was the transfer of bulk rail freight services to QR's specialist bulk subsidiary, ARG.

She said the majority of affected employees transferred to ARG on Monday 20 July and that some employees had decided to remain with QR.

QR has advised that 20 employees are awaiting a traincrew transfer to another QR depot throughout Queensland. QR is working closely with a further 26 employees who have chosen to stay with QR.

Ms Noland said the policy of no forced redundancy or forced relocation applied to all QR employees and QR would work closely with each employee to explore options of retraining for a position; finding employment in the local community; relocation; or voluntary redundancy.

"This process of reform was underway well before the government made any decision about the sale of parts of QR - as evidenced by the change from rail to road in December 2008," Ms Nolan said.

"It is totally false for anyone to suggest otherwise.

"This government's commitment to regional services and QR workers is rock solid.

"We will continue to work with unions and employees on these issues but let's remember - no forced relocations, no forced redundancies, and any employee choosing to accept a voluntary early retirement could receive up to two years' pay.

"These conditions are the envy of other workers, particularly those in the mining industry who have been hit hard by the global financial crisis."

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[ozbob]

Media Release 31st July 2009

Queensland: Ramp up rail!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has called for a redirection of funds from roads to rail.  It is clear that road transport is out of control in terms of the carnage and huge costs to our health system.  Environmental costs and impacts of road transport are mounting and will become an unmanageable liability.  Roads are being ruined by a shift from rail to roads of general freight.  Passenger rail needs a revitalisation and expansion.

Robert Dow, spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The mounting death and injury toll on the roads confirms the failure of the road centric transport policy.  Rather than contemplating cutbacks on our general freight rail network there needs to be an expansion. Similarly rail grain and livestock transport needs proper resourcing and expansion."

"Passenger rail services, both suburban and rural need a revitalisation and increase in services (1)."

"Why are we continuing along a failed paradigm?  The evidence of the failure of transport policies over the last 50 years is abundant in terms of congestion costs, environmental costs and damage, and costs to the health sector.  Rail is at least 40 times safer than road transport. Why is the community continued to be subjected to the real and obvious dangers of road transport when there are much safer and more cost effective alternatives?"

"QR assets should be kept in public ownership (2).  A proper integrated network that we have now is the way to move forward.  Privatisation of rail assets has not worked anywhere. Rather than sell off our hard earned assets we should be expanding rapidly our rail services.  This will then position the state for a sustainable and affordable transport future.  As it is, we are heading 'faster than a speeding locomotive' into a failed transport state."

"QR also needs to refocus.  Rather than constant cutbacks QR needs to change its focus to constant expansion!"

References:

1.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2490.0

2.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2360.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org