Privatisation Dangers
Introduction
Selling off Queensland’s public assets for infrastructure building is a short-term solution that will have long-term consequences for Queenslanders.
Our state will lose valuable money-making public assets - and we will never be able to reclaim them.
In the average Queensland household, when times get tough you might tighten your belts and talk to the bank manager - you do not sell your house
› Our Railways
built with public money, will be sold off to operators more interested in making money than providing a vital service to our regional industries, such as mining and farming.
› Our Ports
built with public money, will become private gateways possibly owned and operated by foreign interests.
› Our Motorways
Our motorway users will face higher charges and reduced maintenance levels to maintain profits for private companies.
› Our Forests
Our forests will no longer be managed for the benefit of Queenslanders but for the operator’s profit margin.Privatising public assets has been disastrous throughout the world – you can act to make sure Queensland doesn’t make the same mistake.
The Queensland Government in June 2009 announced that it intended to sell off some of our public assets to help meet its budget promises.
Queensland Rail's coal and freight arms, Queensland Motorways, the Port of Brisbane and forestry plantations are all up for sale.
Queensland unions are leading a community campaign opposing the sell-off of public assets. Our campaign through Queensland in June and July received widespread support from all Queenslanders wanting to ensure public assets remain in public hands.
These assets must be operated in the interests of the people of Queensland, rather than in the interests of shareholders' profits.
Research shows Queenslanders want the government to maintain our assets - not sell them off in a panic when times are tough.
Keep checking this page for updates and details of planned campaign activities.
Queenslanders know the score when it comes to privatisation of public assets.
Research on a sample of Queenslanders showed that 89% do not believe in privatisation.
Queenslanders have heard about:
- the New Zealand government recently buying back its freight rail service for just $1 after years of neglect and ineptitude by an incompetent and greedy private operator. The Kiwi government now must spend millions on restoring this vital public service after 15 years of privatisation.
- the appalling safety record of the privatized railways in the United Kingdom, where cost cutting on safety and maintenance has been directly attributed to commuter fatalities.
- In Tasmania, the State Government recently bought back the state’s freight rail network after its private owner walked away from the service. The private operator had purchased the rail system in 2004 but recent derailments due to track maintenance failure had paralysed the service and threatened Tasmanian industry relying on the service.
Privatising public assets has not delivered the benefits promised by politicians – you can act to make sure Queensland doesn’t make the same mistake.
Merchant bankers will be the only winners from Queensland’s fire sale of public assets.
Consultants appointed for the sale stand to make more than $200 million in fees from the asset sale.
The Government is more interested in handing out bonuses for bankers and multi-million dollar pay days for executives than protecting jobs and services in regional areas.
A major advertising strategy to win public support for privatisation is part of the consultants’ brief.
QCU General Secretary Ron Monaghan said this was a sinister attempt to hoodwink Queenslanders using millions of taxpayer dollars.
“Queenslanders know that privatisation is a stinker.
“No advertising spin is going to fool Queenslanders. Selling off our rail, ports, roads and forestry assets is a short-term decision that will harm Queensland’s regional economy.
The $200m commission promised to consultants could pay for major work at regional hospitals, or for schools and roads in regional areas.
Privatising public assets will deprive Queenslanders of revenue to keep building our state – you can act to keep our public assets working for us.
