Qld: QR axes flash tax-funded Riverfire dinner

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2008
Qld: QR axes flash tax-funded Riverfire dinner

By Nadine McGrath

BRISBANE, Aug 30 AAP - Queensland Rail (QR) bosses have been forced to cancel a controversial
$30,000 bill-the-taxpayer Riverfire function tonight at a ritzy Brisbane restaurant.

Guests and 60 executives of the troubled state government company were to dine at Asian
restaurant Siana, enjoying one of best vantage points in Brisbane to watch the annual
fireworks display.

An embarrassed Queensland Transport Minister John Mickel, who was not invited to the
event, was first notified of the function by a journalist yesterday.

Today he acted as QR's party pooper and pressured chief Lance Hockridge to cancel the event.

"This strikes as being lavish and accordingly this morning I have said to the CEO of
Queensland Rail 'Abandon the corporate sponsorship and show the public we are dedicated
to looking after the public'," Mr Mickel told reporters in Brisbane.

The cancelled QR Riverfire function comes after other controversies to hit QR and Mr
Mickel's transport portfolio.

The Crime and Misconduct Commission cleared him in May after a QR train was used for
a controversial Labor Party trip, which has been dubbed the "gravy train" scandal.

There has also been criticism about overcrowded trains, security, breakdowns and trains
not running on time.

"I'm angry about it (the event) because I have said to them in a climate of restructuring
where people are going through pain and paying customers are each morning waiting for
trains you can't be seen to be lavish," he said.

State opposition treasury spokesman Tim Nicholls said the latest controversy showed
Mr Mickel was not up to the job.

"The minister seems to have trouble getting on top of this portfolio - he's had trouble
with the gravy train affair, Go Card ... he does not really know much is what going on
in his portfolio," Mr Nicholls said.

"At a time when we have 20 per cent overloading QR should be focused on delivering
services and making sure we have enough trains and that they are running on time - rather
than holding gala events for their executives."

The late cancellation could mean taxpayers may still be hit with a hefty bill.

"They've made a booking and cancelled at the last minute so how much of the $30,000
allegedly spent on this dinner, champagne and fine food will be refunded?," he said.

"QR is a government owned business and should be about delivering services taxpayers
of Queensland not big-noting themselves to the top end of town."

Mr Nicholls suspects other government-owned corporations may be holding lavish functions
for Riverfire tonight.

"I think the government should come clean and tell us what government owned corporations
are doing tonight and how much they are spending and whether they are really focused on
delivering services for taxpayers or good times for bureaucrats," he said.

A QR spokesman said they had been told to direct all inquiries about the cancelled
event to Mr Mickel's office.

Comment has been sought from the restaurant. Mr Mickel's office has not said if a cancellation
fee was paid to the eatery.

AAP nm/cjh/de

KEYWORD: RAIL

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