Further Jobs And Frontline Services Slashed By Newman Government In Townsville

Media Release.

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says a further 33 jobs in North and North West Queensland have been axed by the Newman Government, this time in Queensland Rail and WorkCover.

“Despite the Premier’s promise in December of ‘no more job cuts’, these 33 positions — 28 in QR and five in WorkCover — are disappearing. These job cuts are yet another broken promise by the LNP government which has spent its first year in office sacking people and cutting frontline services,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Ms Palaszczuk said the Newman Government must guarantee that the axing of 28 Queensland Rail staff in North and North West Queensland, including rail safety inspectors, would not jeopardise safety.

“The latest 28 axed positions come on top of 11 positions slashed in the rail safety division last year,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Transport Minister Scott Emerson said on Sunday the number of rail safety investigation staff had remained unchanged over the past two years. Yet his own answer to an Opposition question on notice reveals 28 Queensland Rail jobs were axed in North Queensland last year.

“In light of these discrepancies, it is time for Mr Emerson to be crystal clear about the current safety capability of Queensland Rail,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk said another five jobs have been axed in Townsville, with the announcement that the Newman Government will close WorkCover’s Townsville office.

“The latest cuts to jobs and frontline services at WorkCover in Townsville follows a year of sustained attacks by the Newman Government on Townsville’s frontline services and jobs,” she said.

Thanks to the Newman Government unemployment in the ABS’s Northern-North West Region was 7.2% in February, up from 6.7% in February last year.

This means since the Newman Government was elected a year ago, 1,500 more people are unemployed in the region.

“As usual, the Member for Townsville John Hathaway, Member for Thuringowa Sam Cox and Member for Mundingburra David Crisafulli are silent and nowhere to be seen on Townsville’s rising unemployment rate and continued axing of local jobs by their own government,” she said.

“A year on from the election, it’s time these cowardly LNP members started taking responsibility for their decisions and the ramifications for regional Queensland.”

Ms Palaszczuk said the closure and sacking of staff at WorkCover Townsville was another example of the Newman Government abandoning regional Queensland and centralising services in Brisbane.

The Premier claims he wants to promote job opportunities in regional Queensland, yet he continues to announce the closing of offices and axing of jobs in regional centres across the state.

WorkCover offices in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Rockhampton are all being closed, slashing 17 jobs.

The Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie has attempted to wash his hands of this decision saying the closure was a decision by WorkCover, however the WorkCover organisation chart clearly shows he is the Minister responsible for this organisation and the decision lies with him.

Ms Palaszczuk said the sackings will only make unemployment in Townsville worse and follows a year of sackings and the axing of frontline services by the Newman Government.

Townsville jobs and frontline services slashed by the Newman Government include:

• 130 health jobs cuts, including 45 nurses, 23 health practitioners and 10 health workers
•  $21 million slashed from the Townsville Hospital and Health Service area
•  Axing of 28 Queensland Rail jobs in North and North West Qld
•  Local jobs losses at Ergon, Energex and RoadTek
•  Four QBuild jobs axed
• Closure of Townsville Tenancy Advice and Advocacy Service
• Slashing of North Queensland TAFE campuses from 26 to 15
• Closure of the Oonoonba biosecurity laboratory and scrapping of the Labor Government’s proposed new biosecurity laboratory at James Cook University

Ms Palaszczuk said as unemployment in Townsville continues to rise under the Newman Government it is time the three local LNP MPs stood up for their local community and demanded the onslaught of cuts to jobs and frontlines services in Townsville stopped.