RURAL Queensland believes increasingly it is being shunted into a low priority siding by state-wide carrier Queensland Rail.
QR is in the limelight because of the Bligh Government’s planned move to sell-off part of its system, notably its highly profitable coal operations, sparking immediate concerns on the part of country people worried about the likely implications.
In a bad week for the State Government’s transport company it has:
• Triggered two leading LNP politicians, namely Member for Warrego, Howard Hobbs, also Member for Gregory, Vaughan Johnson, to criticise its stop-start services.
• Alarmed Quilpie Shire Mayor David Edwards and his counterpart Paroo Shire Mayor, Jo Sheppard, who have rising concerns as to QR’s future plans for their districts.
• Continued to garner AgForce unease over QR’s commitment to agriculture in general.
Last week’s cascade of QR-related events saw LNP Member for Warrego, Howard Hobbs, claim Queensland Rail had ceased all freight services from Brisbane to Roma and Charleville.
Mr Hobbs said 90 percent of the freight carried by QR would now have to find its way onto road transport and a Warrego Highway that was unsafe and deteriorating rapidly.
"Some communities could face food shortages due to QR’s snap cut backs to freight services," he said.
His comments were echoed by LNP Member for Gregory Vaughan Johnson who commented the Bligh Government’s 'slash and burn of QR's freight services' was coming to a head with the nation's largest meatworks – Swifts at Dinmore - under a cloud as management had said jobs at the plant were at risk.
"Comments from Swifts manager John Berry that blue-collar jobs are at risk should be ringing very loud alarm bells in the current climate," Mr Johnson said.
The Member for Gregory also highlighted how the number of cattle loading points across Queensland had been cut from 300 to just 17 and the number of cattle K-wagons halved to just 500 – all in the last decade.
Quilpie Shire Mayor David Edwards believes "no one seems to know exactly what is happening" with respect to QR's horror week out west.
"All I really know is we haven't had a train into Quilpie in a week and no-one is saying when the next train will arrive."
Also becoming increasing concerned at the future of its rail service, following major disruptions to South West Queensland's rail services in the past week, is Paroo Shire Mayor Jo Sheppard.
"Without rail we have no alternative to road transport,” he said.
Lobby group AgForce continues to closely monitor the situation, conceding the issues with QR over then past week look to have been "slightly" corrected.
"However, for much of May and early June we had only one or two of the five trains for grain working in the state," AgForce spokesman Lindsay Krieg said.
"Trains had a 20 to 30 percent success rate over that period."
AgForce believes agriculture is at "the bottom of the list" with respect to the allocation of trains.
It's also flagging how the continued expansion of the state’s coal industry - particularly in southern Queensland – will only exacerbate the situation.
Mr Krieg says AgForce’s biggest issue with QR remained access to track in southern Queensland where it sought a commitment to maintain at least 12 paths per week for the grains industry.
Meanwhile, Labor stalwarts the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) this week said the State Budget privatisation plans represented "an unnecessary threat" to struggling regional Queensland.
Its state president contends the sale of public assets is unnecessary since week’s Budget indicated the Queensland economy will return to surplus by 2016 - even without the sale of Queensland Rail.
Bruce Mackie says more than 10,000 of QR's 15,000 workers throughout the state will be affected by the government plans to sell off QR.
As a result, the RTBU has vowed to continue its 'Queensland – Not For Sale' campaign against the privatisation of rail, port, roads and forestry assets.
"Privatisation presents a real risk to jobs in regional areas," Mr Mackie said.
"Many of our regional communities depend on the freight rail network for jobs and to get their goods to markets.
"Private rail operators will corner the transport market and jack up prices."
The RTBU says privatisation will see "jobs go west, charges go north and service head south" and plans to hold a series of regional community forums to highlight the issue.
Contacted for a response on a number of rail-related issues, a QR spokesperson said: "A short-term locomotive supply issue has resulted in the cancellation of some services on this line in recent weeks.
"We have responded by using road transport for some smaller volume general freight - so we can continue to meet customer needs."
He then reiterated that QR operated a range of freight services in south-west Queensland, including general freight, grain, livestock and coal, adding that QR was the only rail business in Australia still hauling livestock.
However, no clarification was given on the future of South West Queensland rail services.
QR’s spokesperson went on to assure it was "working closely" with its customers to provide solutions for movement of freight, including alternative services, and to keep them informed.
Footnote: Transport Minister Rachel Nolan’s office was unable to comment on rising bush concerns about QR’s commitment to rural rail services – despite being asked for a response the day before Queensland Country Life’s print deadline.
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