Industry calls on QR to accept umpire’s final decision

THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC), has called on Queensland Rail (QR) to accept the Queensland Competition Authority’s final decision on QR’s Draft Access Undertaking.

The decision rejects QR’s proposal and requires it to submit a new document by 16 August.

'QR needs to accept the umpire’s decision, move on from the regulatory process and get back to the core business of improving the performance and long-term utilisation of its railways as soon as possible,’ said QRC's Chief Executive Michael Roche.

‘QR’s approach to this process has resulted in four years of delay and uncertainty, which has in turn undermined investment confidence in Queensland and seriously eroded the attractiveness of investing in the Darling Downs region.’

QRC's March 2016 submission to the QCA sets out just some of the many extra regulatory steps that have been created by QR’s approach to this process.

Mr Roche said that the cost of this process now runs into many millions of dollars, much of which will be borne by taxpayers, as the ultimate owners of QR – a cost that will be further exacerbated if QR seeks to judicially review the Authority's decision.

‘QRC is calling on QR to bring this process to an end immediately,’ said Mr Roche. 

‘Going forward, we support the review of the QCA Act currently being contemplated by the Government. The QR experience demonstrates the need to improve the Act so that processes are not delayed by, and millions spent on, debates regarding whether the QCA has, or does not have, the power to make reasonable decisions.’

In QRC’s March submission, QRC called on the regulator to make a final decision and we welcome the news that our advice has been heeded. 

‘In February, two Queensland energy GOCs needed a direction from the shareholding Minister to accept a regulator's decision. Now is the time for QR to listen to its customers, accept the reality of the final outcome of a thorough QCA investigation, and immediately confirm its intention to accept the umpire’s decision,’ Mr Roche said.

‘If QR refuses to accept the QCA’s decision, then the responsible Ministers (the Transport Minister and the Treasurer) need to step in and put an end to QR’s intransigence.’

www.qrc.org.au

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