Media Release.
160
Jobs to go, many in Indigenous communities
22
June 2013
The
Electrical Trades Union has described the latest announcement by the
government that it intends to plough full steam ahead with the
privatisation of isolated state - owned power station assets, “as a
low act and a gross betrayal of trust”
State
Secretary Peter Simpson said the decision to plough ahead with
recommendation 29 of the recently released Independent Review Panel
Report is a blatant privatisation of state owned assets and more than
160 jobs including those of many local Indigenous workers who work in
remote island communities.
“This
is a low act even for this government, they said they would not sell
assets without a mandate, yet they are full steam ahead into selling
33 isolated power station assets currently owned by the Queensland
public” Mr. Simpson said.
He
pointed to the ongoing lies of the government and accused them of
treating the Queensland public like mushrooms.
“Back
on January 18 Treasure Nicholls’ said in The Courier Mail on the
subject of electricity assets “We
remain committed to that position: no sales without a mandate from
the people” and
Newman himself reiterated that point in April 30 where the Brisbane
Times reported “The
state government has held the position they would not sell assets
without seeking a mandate since before the last election. For the
first time Mr Newman has completely ruled out taking a policy of
selling energy assets to the 2016 election”
yet
here we are just days after the final IRP report hit the deck and
they are lying through their teeth”
In
a further sign of bad faith the government has allowed just two weeks
to ram through consultation with a view to have a final decision by
July 7. The Union lodged a dispute with Fair Work Australia on
Thursday, that hearing will proceed at 2.30;pm Monday 24th
June
in Brisbane.
“We
thought the government’s decision to look at closing more than 30
Ergon Depots throughout regional and remote Queensland was cutting
the bush adrift but this is a scorched earth scenario. Communities
from Birdsville to Thursday Island will have their power stations
privatised and their jobs outsourced; it’s a betrayal of the bush”
“The
government is treating rural communities with utter contempt they are
steamrolling community concern and ramming through destructive
policies that will decimate regional and remote communities”
For
further information or interview contact
Stuart
Traill 0430 072 049
Peter
Simpson – State Secretary 0419 721 041
Andrew
Irvine - Media Officer 0448633858
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