SAVE MY PORT— SAVE MY JOB

Media Release

 

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk has launched a Save Gladstone’s Port—Save Gladstone’s Jobs petition to help fight the Newman Government’s plans to privatise the Gladstone Ports Corporation as part of its ongoing asset sales program.

 

“The Premier and Treasurer will try to pretend that they are not selling the Gladstone Port because they are offering it to private investors under a 99-year lease,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

 

“But leasing the port for 99 years is the same as selling it and the people of Gladstone will not be fooled by the LNP’s arrogance and trickery.

 

“The sale of the port and its facilities at Gladstone, Port Alma, and in Bundaberg will see inevitable job cuts as private owners focus on maximising profits for outside shareholders and not on supporting the local community as the Gladstone Ports Corporation has done.

 

“We need to send the Newman Government a message — through the Save Gladstone’s Port—Save Gladstone’s Jobs petition and at the next state election — that Queenslanders do not want the LNP to sell the port.

 

“The Labor Party learned the unmistakable lesson at the 2012 state election that Queenslanders do not like governments selling public assets.

 

“The LNP needs to hear that same message loud and clear.”

 

Ms Palaszczuk said the Save Gladstone’s Port—Save Gladstone’s Jobs petition could be supported online by visiting: http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/e-petition?PetNum=2208  

 

“The Newman Government pretends it wants to hear the views of Queenslanders before selling state assets,” she said.

 

“Yet in less than two years it has already undertaken around $4 billion in asset sales without the approval of voters, including seven government office blocks the Treasurer Tim Nicholls sold for $562 million which the Auditor-General has identified as $237 million less than they were worth.

 

“Other asset sales have included $58 million in school property, $2.7 billion in Aurizon shares, and the $500 million sale of its stake in the SA-based power transmission company Electranet.

 

“The Treasurer has also hired investment banks to start work on selling more assets worth at least $6 billion including those belonging to bulk water supplier Sunwater, electricity transmission entity Powerlink, and the state’s toll roads.”

 

Member for Rockhampton Bill Byrne said the Gladstone community and the state as a whole stood to lose badly if the Gladstone Ports Corporation was sold.

 

“In 2012-13 the Gladstone Ports Corporation employed around 700 people including more than 600 in full-time positions,” Mr Byrne said.

 

“What guarantees can the Premier or Treasurer give that those employment levels will be maintained by a private owner?

 

“Over the past five years the Corporation has returned more than $240 million in dividends and other payments to taxpayers including almost $64 million in 2012-13 alone.

 

“The Corporation also contributed to the $35 million Gladstone Entertainment Centre and car park expansion project in partnership with the Gladstone Regional Council

“The Corporation has also played a vital role by supporting a range of community events including the annual Gladstone Harbour Festival, EcoFest and the Botanic to Bridge Fun Run.

 

“It also invests funds in community and economic development by supporting Gladstone Area Promotions, the Rockhampton Regional Development Board and the Bundaberg Region Futures Program.

 

“Can the LNP Government guarantee any private owner of the port will continue to support the local community through such initiatives?”