Queensland residents of the State of Queensland draws to the attention of the House that Queensland Rail has changed its timber sleeper cutter contract system, which now threatens 56 direct jobs and up to 400 indirect country Queensland jobs. Queensland Rail’s new timber sleeper process could mean:

1. Queensland country jobs will be given to New South Wales and overseas companies.
2. It will most likely cost Queensland taxpayers more money, with new sleeper tender prices up to 20% dearer than existing prices $32 to $39+).
3. It will encourage the hiring of inexperienced and unqualified sleeper cutters, who will damage our Queensland environment and forests.

Your petitioners therefore, request the House to make all efforts to ensure that both the government, who are part owners of Queensland Rail and LNP opposition, guarantee that the 56 official Queensland Sleeper cutters are not financially disadvantaged because of changes to Queensland Rail’s procurement system and if they are found to be disadvantaged, the present or future Queensland government fairly compensates those sleeper cutters.