An announcement by Aurizon on Monday that it was taking six train driver positions out of Charleville has come as a huge shock to the south western community.
Already facing the closure of a number of businesses in the leadup to Christmas and battling the effects of drought, Murweh shire CEO Neil Polglase said the decision was a devastating blow.
“We became aware that people had received termination letters today,” he said on Monday evening. “There has been no consultation with the council prior to this.
“We’ll be looking to meet with the minister and Aurizon representatives, and we’ll be fighting tooth and nail to keep the rail line and our workers.”
It’s understood there have been two cattle trains from Charleville in the last 18 months.
The Member for Warrego, Anne Leahy described the news of the losses as absolutely appalling.
“The drivers have been told they can take a voluntary redundancy or try and get other jobs in Dalby or Roma, but this takes more people out of Charleville at the very worst time,” she said. “What makes it worse is that Aurizon is subsidised by the state government.”
Quilpie mayor Stuart Mackenzie believed the writing was on the wall for these positions from the time the ink was dry on the contract between Aurizon and Queensland Rail.
“These problems stem from the Bligh government setting up the contract,” he said. “The rail line is owned by the government but I don’t know how much control the government has.
“Aurizon is subsidised to provide the service and use infrastructure maintained by taxpayers. It’s a very strange business arrangement.
“Aurizon’s a private company, so does the government have any control? Probably not.”
Quilpie lost their own drivers in 2012.
The company’s decision will be debated by the South West Regional Economic Development group meeting at Quilpie on Tuesday.
Aurizon was not able to be contacted for comment on Monday night.
