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Trains, boats and campervans as parties look to keep Queensland moving

Labor leader Annastacia Palaszczuk has pledged $1 billion for Queensland-built trains, again to be funded largely through borrowings.

Oct 13, 2020, updated Oct 13, 2020
The caravan industry has copped a swipe over fixed pricing and other dodgy dealing. (Photo: ABC)

The caravan industry has copped a swipe over fixed pricing and other dodgy dealing. (Photo: ABC)

In Maryborough to make the announcement, Palaszczuk promised the local community – which had previously been a mainstay of Queensland manufacturing – at least 690 jobs rail jobs if her government was re-elected.

Palaszczuk said the package of works would include $600 million to build 20 new trains in Maryborough and funding for a business case to replace carriages on the long-distance Westlander, Inlander and Spirit of the Outback services.

“We will be making Queensland trains in Queensland,” Palaszczuk said at Downer EDI in Maryborough, which she forecast would be part of a rail revival.

“This billion dollars of investment will ensure the continuation of advanced rail manufacturing in Queensland.”

Her announcement came after Liberal National Party leader Deb Frecklington visited a motorhome company near Brisbane to announce an LNP government would cut taxes on campervans and similar vehicles.

Frecklington said the move would save buyers an average of $2,300 and be of particular benefit to retirees and seniors.

“The Grey Nomad Tax was announced two days before the last election and it’s ripping millions of dollars off retirees every year,” Frecklington said.

“The LNP supports lower taxes to support jobs, so this tax will be axed in the LNP’s first Budget.”

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Meanwhile, Katter’s Australian Party leader Rob Katter pitched the idea of 21 new “mini-ports” on Cape York in response to a government ban on new ports.

“They can be called marinas but really they’re mini ports because you can still build marinas in Queensland, at least down south,” Katter said.

“You go south of Cairns every 30, 40 miles there’s a port or marina but in the north we’re not allowed to take advantage of resources like the rest of Queensland.”

Katter criticised the major parties as they argued over Frecklington’s meetings with developers and whether they were in breach of a ban on developer donations.

The state election will be held on October 31.

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