The Queensland Government is planning to freeze all Queensland Rail bonuses.

 

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said the bonus structure of Queensland Rail was not meeting community expectations.

 

“I have spoken to the chair of Queensland Rail and made it clear bonuses are only to apply where they are required under contracts set up by Labor,” Mr Emerson said.

 

“I think most people would take a dim view of bonuses at a time when we are making hard decisions to get Queensland back on track.”

 

In 2010/11 under Labor there were 1,337 bonuses costing $4.8 million despite claiming to link executive pay to performance.

 

“Labor announced in 2010 that executive pay would be linked to service delivery, the current leader of the Opposition didn’t follow through and let bonus payment get out of control,” he said.

 

“I accept that there are some circumstances where bonuses are required as part of an employment package, but $4.8 million is not an acceptable level, particularly when there is declining patronage and reliability reached a three-year low.”

 

Last month the LNP ordered Queensland Rail to refocus its business on the delivery of frontline services after significant increases in corporate numbers over the past two years.

 

This included staffing increases of 68 per cent in the communication, stakeholder and marketing area, 122 per cent increase in finance area, and 66 per cent in strategy and corporate services area.