The Queensland coal industry is prepared to accept the independent competition regulator’s final decision on Aurizon’s rail maintenance budget and Aurizon should declare the same immediately and end the coal export impasse.
Queensland Resources Council (QRC) Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said Aurizon should cooperate with the Queensland Competition Authority, immediately resume its normal maintenance program on the Central Queensland Coal Network and end the coal export impasse it started.
In its submission lodged with the QCA this week, the QRC has noted the regulator’s preliminary position was for Aurizon’s rail maintenance budget to be increased by $73 million over four years, pending Aurizon itself providing the QCA with more information to support its position.
The QRC estimates the cost of Aurizon’s plan to stop the movement of up to 20 million tonnes per annum under its new maintenance regime would cost up to $4 billion per annum in lost Queensland export revenue and up to a $500 million cut in royalties paid to the Palaszczuk Government for services and infrastructure for all Queenslanders.
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