Why is Anna Bligh ignoring Ministerial advice that the sale of QR is not in QLD’s interest?

Documents obtained under Right to Information have revealed that the QLD government has been warned that the sale of QR will be detrimental to the QLD resources sector. Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Anthony Albanese’s office has warned the Bligh government that the sale of QR will “result in higher costs ... more

Rail passengers at the mercy of hooligans

Rail passengers are being put at risk because of a disorganised approach to security by the Queensland Government and QR. The latest QR figures show 1117 reports of disorderly conduct on Citytrains in 2009, with 236 reported assaults, including an unprovoked stabbing at Fortitude Valley station recently.As the situation stands, neither QR ... more

SEQ infrastructure blueprint ignores cost scoping

Many of the projects listed in the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program have not undergone any professional cost evaluation or p-ratings.Questioning during Parliamentary Estimates has revealed that the government has no clue about the projected cost of many of its transport and main roads infrastructure projects, which explains the ... more

Toll hikes leading to greater city congestion

Many small business operators have been forced to rat-run around suburban streets to avoid massive toll hikes from 1st July.The state government conducted no research into the impact on families and businesses that the massive increases in toll prices would have.Toll hikes for business have been considerable, such as a 96% increase for light ... more

$112m spent to “beautify” the new driver’s licence

The new “smart” licence project has blown-out to $112 million from its initial estimated cost of $60 million in order to make the licences “look good.” The new licence project cost blowout is another example of the Labor government’s failure to cost projects accurately. Fiona Simpson questions whether at a time when Bligh and Labor has a record ... more

Ex-HMAS Brisbane unable to Rest in Peace

The ex-HMAS Brisbane dive area is being used illegally as a fishing location, despite being protected as a Marine Park, due to a lack of state government patrols of the area. Fiona Simpson, has condemned the state government for failing to enforce the fishing exclusion zone of the ex-HMAS Brisbane, which was designed to protect both the safety of ... more

Residents are Paying the Cost of Failed Water Projects

Sunshine Coast residents are now paying for the money wasted on the dam and pipeline it didn’t want. Water rates are expected to rise by approximately 16% or an average of $100 a year in order to recoup the money wasted on the Bligh Government’s three major failed water projects, Traveston Dam, the Tugun Desalination Plant and the South East ... more

Scalpers caught selling free Go Cards on eBay

Scalpers have been cashing in on the TransLink free Go Card giveaway, selling “free” pre-loaded Go Cards on eBay that were available for Queenslanders who did not already have a Go Card. After Fiona Simpson broke the story to journalists, who then contacted TransLink, action was finally taken to stop the auctions on eBay where Go Cards were being ... more

Bus Users are paying for Go Card GPS blackouts

Many commuters are unknowingly being hit with penalty charges on their Go Cards as a result of recurring Go Card GPS “blackouts” on Brisbane buses.When the Go Card GPS experiences a “blackout,” commuters are being charged penalty fees for ‘failing to touch off’ – with many commuters unaware of the penalty charge being made to their card credit. Bus ... more

Drug-drivers are going undetected

Drug-driving tests make up less than one per cent of Queensland’s roadside breath-testing campaign, with only 12,000 drug tests performed each year compared with 2 million tests each year for alcohol.Even when drivers are caught under the influence of drugs, the penalties are less severe than for drink drivers, and are failing to act as a deterrent ... more

Livestock Freight Costs hiked with no promise of better service

Regional Queensland has been stung with more increases in the cost to freight Livestock on QR, while QR refuses to improve unreliable freight services.The costs of hauling freight by QR have been hiked 4%, conditional on the beef industry’s acceptance of sub-standard services in regional Queensland.  Queensland Rail provides only 264 rail services ... more

Consumers pay for increases in Trucking Registration Costs

  The trucking industry has been hit with increases of up to 36.5% in the cost of registration for heavy vehicle by the Bligh government, which will be passed onto consumers. The Bligh government has increased registration costs for heavy vehicles, with increases of 36.5% for B-triples and 25% for B-doubles.Ms Simpson warns that the price hike ... more