Qr Float No Comfort For Queensland Workers

QR float no comfort for Queensland workers

Queensland workers have been abandoned following Premier Bligh's decision to continue the asset sales program.

The decision risks thousands of Queensland jobs in regional and metropolitan areas

QCU General Secretary Ron Monaghan said that no amount of spin could hide the fact that Queenslanders would lose control of profit-making assets.

"This decision means the government will wash its hands of these assets and relinquish control to private providers.

"The float of QR appears to be alarmingly similar to the disastrous Telstra share floats which ultimately resulted in higher prices, inferior standards and poor service.

"Queenslanders know and trust QR as it is not by some fancy new name dreamt up by foreign commercial advisers.

"And the leasing out of the Port of Brisbane and Abbot Point means that private companies will run these entities for 99 years who will be around then to see them supposedly returned to the people of Queensland?

Mr Monaghan said that unions could still see no reason why the asset sales needed to proceed with Queensland weathering the financial storm better than expected.

"Treasury's own forecasts show that coal rail will make our state more than half a billion dollars in 2012/2013 no government should sell off a public asset that is performing that well.

"Public sentiment is still well and truly against the sell-off with 80% of Queenslanders opposed to privatisation.

"Plus 21 high powered academic and private sector economists recently said the government's proposal was "economically unsound" and required well informed discussion, not "spurious claims".

"This is a long list of high-powered economists from across the political spectrum surely their argument would give any politician food for thought?

"The case for privatisation should be well and truly closed."

MORE INFO:
AMANDA RICHARDS (QCU ASSISTANT SECRETARY) 0418 752 569

TANIA REEVES (MEDIA/COMMS OFFICER) 0418 700 419

SOURCE: Queensland Council of Unions