Truss supports Downer EDI Rail jobs in Federal Parliament
19th August, 2009
Federal Member for Wide Bay, Warren Truss, has called on the Rudd Labor Government to intervene to guarantee Downer EDI Rail jobs, rather than allow the Queensland Government to buy 200 new trains from Asia.Mr Truss was speaking in the Federal Parliament on legislation by the Rudd Government to increase taxpayer subsidies to the automotive manufacturing industry. Mr Truss said maintaining a train manufacturing industry is at least as important to the Australian economy as building cars.
“Downer EDI Rail and Walkers before that, have been manufacturers at the leading edge of world technology and this capacity should not be allowed to close,” Mr Truss said.
“The Productivity Commission has estimated that taxpayer support for the car making industry is worth $300,000 per worker per year. Downer EDI Rail are not asking for subsidies like that but if the Queensland Government fails to protect Maryborough rail jobs then the Federal Government should step in to save them,” Mr Truss said.
Downer EDI Rail is competing against an international consortium for a $2 billion contract to supply 200 new trains to Queensland Rail.
“Downer EDI has a strong tradition of supplying trains to Queensland Rail, having secured a contract to supply 20 three-car passenger trains valued in excess of $200 million in February this year,” Mr Truss said.
“It came as a huge shock to learn that the $2 billion Queensland Rail contract has been opened up to international bids. This makes a mockery of Anna Bligh’s election commitment to create 100,000 new Queensland jobs and to protect existing jobs by preferring local contractors in tenders to supply publicly funded infrastructure.
“It is incredible that the Bligh Labor Government would threaten the livelihoods of the families and businesses who rely on Downer EDI Rail jobs and risk sending them offshore, especially when Premier Bligh was so explicit in her commitments to keep jobs in Queensland,” Mr Truss said.
“A responsible Queensland Government would understand and act on its obligation to strengthen the Queensland economy by supporting local businesses and securing local jobs. If the Bligh Labor Government will not, the Federal Government must.”
