The AMWU welcomes Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s announcement today that Downer will deliver 65 trains for Queensland, supporting 800 jobs in Maryborough. With this $7 billion investment, the Palaszczuk Government has secured the future of manufacturing in Maryborough.
AMWU members and the local community have been campaigning to bring manufacturing back to Maryborough since 2015.
Under Campbell Newman, our trains were manufactured in India. The Palaszczuk Government brought them home, with the repair and refit of these non-compliant foreign trains being done in Queensland.
With this new announcement, we’ll have our very own Queensland-built fleet of trains to look forward to by 2032.
When governments build or buy things, they should be locally made. By investing in Queensland made trains, the Palaszczuk Government is investing in local jobs and industries and helping to rebuild our domestic supply chains.
A strong manufacturing sector creates high skill, high wage jobs, supports our economy, and is vital for Australia’s sovereign capability.
Quotes attributable to AMWU State Secretary Rohan Webb (QLD &NT)
“With this announcement, the Palaszczuk Government is one step closer to delivering 800 jobs for Maryborough.
“To say that a $7 billion investment into manufacturing in Maryborough is a game-changer would be an understatement. This investment will bring manufacturing back home and secure the future of hundreds of workers in Maryborough.
“AMWU members at Downer EDI in Maryborough are skilled, respected and acknowledged as some of the best train manufacturers in Australia. And now they’re set to lead the way as we rebuild manufacturing capacity in Australia.
“This campaign is among my proudest moments as a unionist with the AMWU. This is a major investment in the secure future of our workers.”