OCTOBER 21, 2021 – The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union are celebrating the announcement 65 new trains will be built at a new train manufacturing facility at Torbanlea, 25 kilometres north-west of Maryborough creating up to 800 new jobs and securing thousands more jobs across regional supply chains in Queensland.
The AMWU campaigned with members in Maryborough and collectively won the support of the State Labor Government to turn Queensland into a rail manufacturing powerhouse creating and securing jobs for generations to come.
The State Government will build a new rail manufacturing facility to support existing facilities in Maryborough, this will be backed with an over 7 billion investment in rail infrastructure.
Labor promised to build 20 new trains in the region during the 2020 state election campaign, but with AMWU member’s campaigning for over six years for more to be built here, they government has more than tripled that number.
Quotes attributable to AMWU State Secretary Rohan Webb (QLD &NT)
“Queensland trains built by Queenslanders for Queenslanders – this is a major nod to train manufacturing workers - our members - and a demonstration of our state’s commitment to supporting Australian made.
“This is one of my proudest moments as a unionist with the AMWU – at a time when we’re coming out of a global pandemic, it’s a win to get commitment from the state government to build trains here and support Aussie made.
“This is a major investment in the secure future of our workers. Building these trains here will create up to 800 jobs and secure thousands more.”