The Port of Brisbane says it was blindsided by the recent announcement that coal trains to the city would be redirected on an extended Inland Rail to Gladstone.
Key points:
- The Port of Brisbane maintains it is the logical connection for Inland Rail
- Mr Joyce says Inland Rail will be extended to Gladstone and coal transported there, not to Brisbane
- Senator Murray Watt says the government does not know where the line will start, finish or how it will connect to ports
It follows Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals Leader Barnaby Joyce telling ABC Radio Brisbane that sending coal to Gladstone instead of Brisbane could be “booked in” as an election promise.
A Port of Brisbane spokesperson said it had not been informed that coal exports would no longer depart from Brisbane.
Mr Joyce has said transporting coal to Gladstone was “logical” with freight going to Brisbane.
The Port of Brisbane spokesperson said the news would “come as a shock to those workers that are currently employed at Brisbane’s rail and coal handling facilities, as well as the entire coal supply chain from Toowoomba through to Brisbane”.
“The Port of Brisbane is the logical place for Inland Rail to connect,” a spokesperson said.
“Any other connections, which can be examined in time, could only strengthen the national freight rail network.
“However, directly connecting the Port of Brisbane to Inland Rail must be the number one priority for all stakeholders.”
Extending Inland Rail to Gladstone would be in addition to Brisbane, not instead of, and it’s understood coal would still be exported through current supply channels, including Brisbane.
It comes after the federal government last month pledged $10 million to investigate extending Inland Rail from Toowoomba to Gladstone.
Labor backs Gladstone bid, doubts Coalition’s commitment
Senator Murray Watt said Labor supported the funding of a business case into the extension of Inland Rail to Gladstone, touting their candidate for Flynn as having supported the proposal for many years.
“It’s unclear whether Barnaby Joyce’s latest statements are a real government commitment or just another headline. Scott Morrison needs to confirm whether he has agreed to this or not,” he said.
“Barnaby Joyce might like to talk a big game, but the reality is that under his mismanagement the Government still does not know where the line will start, where it will finish, how it will connect to ports or the route it will take up and down the country.”
Route ‘locked in’ Joyce says
However, a spokesperson for the Deputy Prime Minister said the Labor Party had no “credibility” when it came to Inland Rail.
“The route is locked in and we are getting on with delivering this vital infrastructure project,” the spokesperson said.
“Our vision for Inland Rail is already transforming regional Australia, driving jobs growth and creating new economic opportunities for communities along the line as well as our exporting industries.”
The Southern Brisbane Suburban Forum has been among the campaigns against coal-trains travelling through the area, and spokesperson Max Hooper said they welcomed the decision to send coal to Gladstone.
Mr Hooper argued extending the Inland Rail to Gladstone faced “none of the political or technical obstacles that remain unresolved with the problematic ‘last mile’ of bringing the inland rail from Toowoomba to the Port of Brisbane”.
“We are calling on a bi-partisan commitment to build the link to Gladstone now and to put on hold the problematic Toowoomba to Brisbane link to consult more widely with the community and industry,” he said.
“It is this section which is the source of such potential misery for the 50,000 forgotten residents of Logan and the residents of southern Brisbane more widely.”
Duo vow to continue fight
Sue and Stan Corbett live 200 metres from the proposed track in Forestdale, and started the Inland Rail Action Group six years ago to prevent freight and coal trains travelling through surrounding suburbs.
“We’re a 50,000-resident, high-density area, and we’re trying to stop them coming through,” Ms Corbett said.
But the pair are resolved to continue fighting against any Inland Rail connection to Brisbane.
“Having Barnaby come out publicly and speak to say that he is supporting a link to Gladstone and turning coal trains to Gladstone, to us, is fantastic,” Mr Corbett said.
“We’re a little bit sceptical of our politicians. We’ll believe it when it happens but it’s great that he’s come out and said that.
“But it still leaves us with the high-speed, heavier, longer, double-stacked trains and the trains will come past our house.”
