The Palaszczuk Labor Government has voted to allow a multinational corporation to keep a Queensland Health supply contract – just hours after it axed 47 Queensland workers.
The LNP moved a motion in Parliament today calling on Labor to review its decision to award the Metro North hospitals contract to Lactalis instead of accepting a rival bid from the Queensland-owned Maleny Dairies.
Hours after the motion was tabled, Lactalis announced that it was closing its Rockhampton factory, with the loss of 47 jobs.
The company is also scaling back production at its South Brisbane factory.
LNP member for Glass House Andrew Powell said the company’s decision made a mockery of the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s Buy Queensland policy.
“Labor overlooked a Sunshine Coast dairy to back a foreign-owned company that is now cutting and running from regional Queensland,” Mr Powell said.
“Labor should rebrand its Buy Queensland policy Bye Bye Queensland.”
Labor voted 47-43 against the LNP motion, which also called for part of the Lactalis contract to be awarded to Maleny Dairies.
“Even with Lactalis sacking Queensland workers, the Palaszczuk Labor Government is still arrogantly standing by its decision to shun Maleny Dairies,” Mr Powell said.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk should be putting Queensland jobs before overseas shareholders.”
LNP Shadow Agriculture Minister Tony Perrett said Labor was failing the dairy industry.
“Labor’s Buy Queensland policy is just a marketing stunt,” Mr Perrett said.
“The only government that will protect farming and dairy jobs in Queensland is an LNP government.”
