<p>The “sheer incompetence” of the Queensland Government-owned QR was to blame for the state’s coal infrastructure bottlenecks, federal treasurer Peter Costello told Parliament yesterday (Wednesday, May 30).</p> <p>As coal producers predict that the delays will cost billions of dollars, state and federal politicians have entered the debate, calling for answers to why there are almost 100 bulkers waiting to load Queensland’s coal.</p> <p>Mr Costello said the delays would go to the heart of Australia’s national income and diminish Australia’s trade performance.</p> <p>“This is solely and totally the responsibility of a State Labor Government,” Mr Costello said.</p> <p>“We cannot export because of sheer incompetence.”</p> <p>South Korean steel maker POSCO slammed the adequacy of the rail performance in the coal chain, criticising it as one of the worst in the world.</p> <p>Acting QR chief Stephen Cantwell told the ABC that the rail operator was “very concerned” by such comments from customers.</p> <p>“Yes indeed, we are challenged,” Mr Cantwell said.</p> <p>“We’ve had some significant challenges in the early part of this year.”</p> <p>Queensland premier Peter Beattie rejected the implication that QR’s reputation was in tatters. </p> <p>“Well I don’t accept that — look, this is a bit of argy bargy,” Mr Beattie said.</p> <p>“The truth is that everybody could have handled this better.</p> <p>“I say to Posco, I say to all the coal companies, let’s just get back to work on this.</p> <p>“It is important to our reputation and what you’re getting is a bit of pressure from them on us to get outcomes and that’s fine.” </p> <br />
