10 July 2013

All Political and general reporters More pain for South Burnett as Tarong axes quarter of workforce Unions demand to know Governments role in axing of 58 jobs Unions are concerned about the decision by Government Owned Corporation Stanwell Corporation to axe a further 58 jobs or around one quarter of its Tarong workforce is being driven by the State Government. The Electrical Trades Union along with The Services Union said it is devastating news for the workers, their families and the local community. ETU State Secretary Peter Simpson said the decision smelled very much like a State Government cost cutting directive. It smacks of a Nicholls directive, slash and burn at all costs and to hell with the communities affected. The workers at Tarong and the wider Kingaroy/Wide Bay community have a right to know who is driving this and we sought those answers through Freedom of Information requests which to date have been denied, you have to ask what are they hiding? he said TSU Acting Secretary Jennifer Thomas took aim at the Premier and his Energy Minister. What makes it particularly obscene is that the Premier was in line for a $100k plus pay rise while the Energy Minister it se t to get a $93k boost while so many workers are being made redundant in government owned energy businesses. Queenslanders were just hit with a 22.6% retail price increase from 1 July, so Stanwell via the wholesale market would be just about the only ones in Queensland who have falling electricity prices. Ms Thomas said the job losses also come hot on the heels of the recent Government decision to consider the sale of state owned power generators. Mr Simpson said the devastating effects were being felt far and wide before todays announcement. The local communities around Nanango, Kingaroy and Yarraman were reeling from 64 job losses announced after the generator mothballed two units in October last year, this latest announcement is yet another kick in the guts for the bush We have had our members telling us job insecurity and redundancies are leading to significant drops in house prices, businesses closures and increasing unemployment Mr Simpson said the decision announced during a half hour briefing earlier today is just another example of this LNP driving decisions from the comfort of their George St leather, while the bush burned.

They are driving job cuts, depot closures many of which could be in the South Burnett and assets sales in Ergon, through their less than Independent Independent Review Committee recommendations and now this; its a disgraceful attack on these regional communities When will local National MPs stand up for their communities and say enough is enough? Contacts Peter Simpson (State Secretary ETU) Jennifer Thomas (Acting Secretary TSU) Jason Young (Organiser ETU)

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