ONE NATION’S ROCKHAMPTON RAIL LINE RESCUE.

Queensland Senator Pauline Hanson has doubled down on her calls for the Federal Government put the interests of Australia ahead of Adani and make the $2 billion dollar rail line from the Galilee Basin to the port at Abbot Point a priority nation building project.

This followed the news that rail freight operator Aurizon had announced plans to shut its Rockhampton workshop.

Senator Hanson said “After another fatal blow to Rockhampton, the Government have the gall to insult Central Queensland residents by giving away a vital piece of rail infrastructure to a multinational mining giant. We’re talking over $100 billion dollars in revenue that will likely end up in an offshore bank account if Adani builds this track.”

“Rockhampton workers and families are struggling more than anywhere in the state and the Government wants to give billions of dollars to a foreign multi-national, it’s a slap in their face,” Senator Hanson said.

Senator Hanson sighted new figures that showed the number of locals staring down the barrel of bankruptcy in Rockhampton in the three months to March was 43. And pointed out that another 32 residents fell into insolvency but are keeping afloat with a debt or a personal insolvency agreement.

“The short sighted policies of previous Governments have driven a historic and once rich part of Queensland close to ruin.”

“Rockhampton has lost its bulk of local jobs in the meat works to 457 visa workers. The mining downturn has been cruel to so many families who have taken enormous hits to incomes. The tourism industry has been crippled by ineffective Governments not prepared to approve Great Keppel Island’s boutique gaming licence. You’ve been battered by cyclones, and the timing of this announcement from Aurizon could not be worse.”

Senator Hanson urged the Turnbull Government to see that they have an opportunity to rescue these workers jobs by announcing plans to build the 389km rail track themselves, offering jobs to Rockhampton railway workers first.

Senator Hanson said “Forget the $5.4 billion dollar Brisbane Cross River Rail and start focusing on regions north and west of the South East corner.”