Re: Future of Queensland Rail looks bleak, says Beattie

[Chris <csinn@netlink.com.au>]

Sounds like privatisation time for Queensland is not to far off.


David Bromage wrote:
> 
> Future of Queensland Rail looks bleak, says Beattie
>    BRISBANE, Aug 23 AAP - The future of Queensland Rail appeared
> bleak today after the federal government refused to let the
> organisation tender for interstate contracts.
>    Premier Peter Beattie said the federal government had sentenced
> Queensland Rail to a "death of 1000 cuts" with its refusal to allow
> the organisation to win contracts Australia-wide.
>    Mr Beattie revealed Finance Minister John Fahey had written to
> him stating the federal government's opinion that governments
> should not be involved in rail freight.
>    "We wanted to have Queensland Rail tender for some work
> interstate and they knocked it back," he told a news conference.
>    "They don't believe freight rail is something we should be in."
>    Mr Beattie said he believed the federal government's stance on
> Queensland Rail could eventually affect the National Competition
> payments paid to the Queensland government.
>    "Basically, they've ended Queensland Rail's future activities,"
> he said.
>    Earlier in parliament, Mr Beattie had said his Labor government
> would not privatise Queensland Rail, promising to do all he could
> to protect the jobs of QR's 14,000 employees.
>    AAP bja/sc/nm