Queensland Rail to deliver better services

Queensland Rail will be transferred to a statutory authority, allowing for a greater customer focus and delivery of better train services.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Scott Emerson said the change would allow the Newman Government to further improve performance of the rail network and bring costs under control.

“The Labor Government was warned in 2009 that Queensland Rail was the most expensive passenger network per kilometre in Australia and chose to ignore the problem,” Mr Emerson said.

“Transferring it from a government-owned corporation to a statutory authority brings it closer to government, not privatisation.

“We will make the organisation more efficient so we can employ more train crew, deliver better timetables and add more trains to the network.”

The former Labor Government, under former Transport Minister and current leader of the opposition Annastacia Palaszczuk left Queensland with a $2 billion company which relies on 80 per cent funding from taxpayers.

Without action, taxpayer funding of Queensland Rail would need to increase from $1.6 billion to $1.9 billion over the next two years.

Making Queensland Rail a statutory authority means staff will come under the same system as Queensland teachers, nurses and other public servants.

“Passengers won’t notice any changes and all Queensland Rail staff contracts and benefits will continue,” Mr Emerson said.

“Under the Newman Government, Queensland Rail has already made significant improvement in their reliability after hitting three-year lows in the final months under Labor.

“We’ve also boosted frequency by adding 150 additional weekly services on the Ferny Grove and Gold Coast lines.”

Legislation will be introduced to State Parliament this week with the change expected to take place from early May.

[ENDS] 15 April 2013

Media contact: Andrew Berkman 0429 128 637