It’s been nearly 12 months since the first cattle train rolled into Oakey Beef Exports from Quilpie after a 23 year absence.
Today, former Transport Minister and Sandgate Labor MP Stirling Hinchcliffe, took time out from his campaign to have smoko with workers from Oakey’s boning room floor.
Mr Hinchcliffe was invited by the workers and management at Oakey Beef Exports in appreciation for his role in getting cattle trains back up and running.
General Manager of Oakey Beef Exports, Pat Gleeson, said it was great to have Mr Hinchcliffe back for a visit.
“Politics aside, Stirling is always welcome here because he helped us when many wouldn’t,” Mr Gleeson said.
“In fact, he overruled advice from public servants to support our initiative.”
Mr Gleeson said the work achieved at Oakey had paved the way for the federal government to support a freight centre at Morven, another important piece of infrastructure for the supply chain.
“Rail freight for cattle is a common sense solution for our supply chain,” he said.
Mr Hinchcliffe said twelve months on, it was great to see the positive environment that the return of cattle to rail had provided for Oakey Beef Exports.
“ The future is very positive thanks to the decision made by the Palaszczuk government,” he said.