Ms Frecklington said while the impact of job losses across the region was significant, the biggest impact would be felt at Hughenden, where 26 Aurizon train drivers were affected.

“The region has just been through a disastrous four years of drought and now it’s being hit again with substantial job losses,” Ms Frecklington said.

“If the equivalent amount of job losses were taking place in Brisbane, there would be 47,000 people out of work, that’s how much this announcement will affect Hughenden.

Ms Frecklington said she had spoken to Flinders Shire Mayor Jane McNamara who was extremely worried about the effect this will have on the Hughenden community and economy.

“I’m asking the Palasczcuk Government to seriously consider increased water allocations from the Flinders River for irrigated agriculture – and an urgent funding injection for local roads,” she said.

“There’s also immediate work that can be undertaken in regional control of prickly acacia to the productivity of grazing country.

“There needs to be immediate action in the area to support the Hughenden community and the surrounding region.”

Meanwhile Rail, Tram & Bus Union (RTBU) Northern District Organiser Les Moffitt has condemned Aurizon for their actions.

“The timing of this announcement could not have come at a worst time of the year with families planning for the Christmas break and now many of them are facing a future of uncertainty in respect to their employment,” Mr Moffitt said.

“While the RTBU appreciates the company has lost business across the corridor resulting in 14 less train services a week operating between Townsville and Mount Isa, we firmly believe that the company is over reacting to the challenge in terms of the amount of jobs they are intending to shed”.

Mr Moffitt said the main problem was many of the senior managers had no operational background knowledge resulting in poor management decisions and workers paid the price for bad choices.

“An example of this, is the recent restructuring that was carried out in the Aurizon Coal business only a few months age where numerous locomotive drivers jobs were cut and now in some areas of the coal  business the company is struggling to meet their customers’ requirements due to the lack of available traincrew,” he said.

“The document provided to the employees advised that the company was considering eliminating 36 positions in total from their Regional Operations and Intermodal Terminal at Mount Isa, seven positions at Cloncurry which includes the closure of the local Rollingstock Maintenance depot, 29 positions at Hughenden as well as 8 positions at their Stuart operation.

“This decision will have a major impact on the small western communities who are already doing it tough particularly Hughenden who will be left with only a small number of railway staff to provide relief to late running train services.”

This continuing job shedding has nothing to do with improving efficiency and customer service as it’s all about reducing costs to maintain shareholder value. It also increases management bonuses because their business is all about maximising profits and bonuses through reducing costs which is ultimately unsustainable.