Xinhua: 2,000 Jobs to Go in Queensland Rransport Department

Almost 2,000 jobs will go from the Department of Transport and Main Roads and related bodies as part of the transport restructure that will deliver more efficient and affordable services for all Queenslanders, the Queensland Government announced on Tuesday.

Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said the Government was making the tough decisions to deal with the cost of living pressures on Queensland families.

"Under the restructure, all Queensland Government transport services will be integrated for the first time under the TransLink banner," Emerson said in a statement released on Tuesday.

TransLink will become part of the Department of Transport and Main Roads and the Translink board will be removed, the Minister said.

He said the department would remain in five divisions with the number of senior executives slashed by almost half from 37 to 21.

"There will be a targeted staff reduction of 18 percent or 1, 970 FTE (full time equivalent) corporate and support roles from the Department and TransLink, saving 287 million AU dollars (302. 18 million U.S. dollars) over the next four years," Emerson said.

"This streamlined structure will deliver improved outcomes for Queenslanders, whether it's a business tendering for work, someone traveling across the State or an individual using any of the hundreds of services offered by the Department."

The Queensland Government plans to save 4 billion AU dollars (4. 21 billion U.S. dollars) over three years.

From: Xinhua
Time: 2012-07-31