Brisbane bolsters Queensland Rail board to take on Pacific National

<p>Early shots in the battle for Australia’s rail freight sector were fired yesterday (Thursday, June 22) as Queensland strengthened the board of its state-owned rail operation.</p> <p>High-profile Melbourne businessman John Prescott, the former chief executive of BHP, and Sydney’s Peter Holmes a Court will join Transurban general manager Lisa Hunt on the Queensland Rail board on July 1. The new faces are expected to give QR a more national profile.</p> <p>State transport minister Paul Lucas said: "QR competes in a fierce marketplace and it must continue to expand its integrated national logistics operations and John Prescott will be leading a team with the experience, know-how and outlook to guide QR into this bold new future."</p> <p>The announcement came as its rival, Pacific National, saw owner Toll Holdings advertise for a buyer for the 50% of Pacific National it must divest to satisfy competition authorities after its takeover of Patrick Corp.</p> <p>"I’m looking forward to working with a team that’s very much committed to QR’s increasing stature as a major force in national logistics," Mr Prescott was quoted by th <em>e Courier-Mail</em> as saying.</p> <p>The new QR board will be Mr Prescott as chairman, Mr Holmes a Court, Ms Hunt, Paul Bell, Dawson Petie, Warren McLachlan, Susan Rix, Robert Holloway and John West.</p> <br />