AMWU State Secretary Andrew Dettmer has warned that a secret deadline in the coming week could decide the fate of up to 1000 Queensland manufacturing jobs and the economic future of the town of Maryborough.

“The successful tenderer for 200 QR passenger trains will not be announced until January 2010. But decisions are being made right now that will determine whether the impact on Queensland workers will be considered as a factor in who that tenderer is,” Mr Dettmer said.

The conditions of the tender are currently under consideration by Queensland Rail and the companies who have expressed an interest in tendering. These deliberations are generally commercial in-confidence, but will end up deciding the basis on which the tenders are assessed. 

“Right now, it’s my understanding that there is currently no priority or weighting given to local jobs. This must change and it must change soon - time is running out for these Queensland workers.

“I met with the Minister for Transport Rachel Nolan Tuesday and outlined our concerns. Unless the State Government urgently ensures that local content and the participation of local industry is made a priority, then all these trains could end up being manufactured overseas. She has promised to get back to us on these concerns shortly.”

Local content refers to the amount of work in a procurement or infrastructure agreement which is provided by Australian workers.

“The Bligh Government was elected on the promise of jobs, and they can’t let themselves be distracted from this goal by stories of shonky lobbyists” Mr Dettmer said.

“Downer EDI’s Maryborough workshop is relying on winning this contract to save the jobs of hundreds of their workers. Including suppliers, a thousand jobs are on the line.

“These are manufacturing jobs that the government must fight to retain. They keep the skills and capacity we need in regional Queensland to grow our economy and reach the State Government’s Q2 objectives.”

Maryborough has been the manufacturing site for Queensland Rail passenger trains for more than 100 years, and a recent Fraser Coast Council report found that rail manufacturing supports an estimated 28 percent of Maryborough’s economy.

“This week is Engineering Week and Premier Bligh spoke at an Engineers Australia dinner last week,” Mr Dettmer said.

“We’re concerned that while the Premier is talking us up, the reality is that if our Government doesn’t act, Queensland Rail executives will undermine the work of the entire sector by sending the work off-shore.”