BLIGH Labor’s decision to steeply increase fees for cattle train services would see thousands of extra heavy truck movements on Queensland’s already overloaded roads, the State Opposition said today.

LNP Shadow Minister for Main Roads and Transport Fiona Simpson questioned the Transport Minister Rachel Nolan during parliament Estimates hearings this afternoon about the implications of her decision to raise cattle train charges by 12 per cent.

Ms Simpson said the 12 per cent hike in QR cattle train charges would turn cattle producers further to road and was estimated to put an additional 5200 B-Double truck movements a year on Queensland’s already congested roads – especially for slaughter cattle coming to the major meatworks around Brisbane.

“Is the Minister closing QR’s cattle train services by stealth and thereby putting extra pressure on our roads,” Ms Simpson asked.

Ms Simpson said the Minister refused to give a straight answer about the impact of the higher fees.

“Rachel Nolan and the Labor Government are happy to talk about managing freight and rail to reduce heavy truck movements, but when it comes to actually doing something positive they’re not really interested.

“Ms Nolan is not even interested in supporting the major meat processor and its workers in her own backyard who depend on regular supplies of cattle to be delivered, not just by road, but particularly by rail for large consignments of western and northern cattle.”