Unions to march on Qld parliament

3rd July 2009

UNIONS will march on Parliament House in Brisbane on Friday to express their anger over the government's plan to sell off $15 billion in public assets.

Union representative Craig Allen is getting calls to take industrial action.

Megan Lewis ML02/0609/28

UNIONS will march on Parliament House in Brisbane on Friday to express their anger over the government's plan to sell off $15 billion in public assets.

Electrical Trades Union (ETU) secretary Peter Simpson said the Light on the Hill campaign - which began two weeks ago and culminates in Friday's rally - was aimed at halting the "fire sale" of assets.

Mr Simpson said unions are also concerned that more assets could be sold in the future.

"If the state government gets away with this then things such as electricity and water will be next," he said.

"That would be an even bigger disaster for the people of Queensland."

He said power prices had jumped since the retail electricity market was privatised.

"The big winners in privatisation are over-paid executives and brokerage firms, while consumers are left to find the extra money for rising bills," Mr Simpson said.

Treasurer Andrew Fraser said the government would continue to work with unions and put job protection measures in place under the asset sales plan.

"They've got a perfect right to protest - we respect that - but we've had to make a decision and we believe it's the right decision and we are going to move forward with that plan in mind," he said.

The rally will start in the Roma Street Forum at noon (AEST).