August 8, 2013
An Electrical Trades Union spokesman said today he expected about 100 workers and community members to attend the union’s “Save Our Town Forum” which will be held in Nanango this evening.
The public forum – being hosted by the not4sale campaign, the ETU, the Services Union, CFMEU Mining, the AMWU and APESMA – is being held from 5:00pm at Nanango RSL Club.
Electrical Trades Union State Organiser Jason Young said Nanango and the South Burnett had been hit extremely hard by the 120 job cuts at Stanwell’s Tarong Power Station.
“This community is reeling from the loss of jobs and they fear for their future, Stanwell is a major employer in the district and to have 120 incomes ripped out of the local economy is, and will have, a major impact on businesses, schools, health services, clubs and it impacts on simple things like not having a meal out, because of the financial burden,” he said.
“We have chosen Nanango to host the ‘Save our Town’ event because it is being caught in the crossfire between the old Nationals who, for all their faults, still gave a damn about the bush and the new LNP who are Brisbane-centric bush bashers.”
He said the depth of feeling had been evident for some time and the community has had enough.
“They want to stand up and fight back against the job cuts at Tarong, the axing of apprenticeships and the pending Ergon depot closures,” Mr Young said.
“The forum will aim to direct the anger to developing action plans to hold local LNP MPs accountable for their actions and to change their minds.
“I have been working on the ground with members’ who have lost their jobs or are being strangled by the uncertainty, they are angry and frustrated that the State Government is hiding behind closed doors and they have had enough, they feel betrayed, we expect emotional scenes tonight.”
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Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington has apologised that she won’t be attending this evening’s meeting as it has been called while Parliament is sitting.
But ALP candidate for the Federal seat of Maranoa, Nick Cedric-Thompson, who ahs been campaigning in the local area, has indicated that he will be present.
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