some news from qld

Here's an extract from the Courier Mail (June 20).

"The Queensland Government has an $18.2 billion infrastructure program and among the controversial decisions ahead will be who it chooses for a multibillion-dollar contract with state-owned Queensland Rail to supply up to 200 new commuter trains.

Two Australian companies, United Group and Downer EDI, are among the six bidders that make up three short-listed consortiums.

Labor Party officials in Maryborough, where Downer EDI has a large workforce, reportedly said the Government's decision on the Downer EDI bid would "make or break" the southeast Queensland city.

Downer EDI and UGL each have foreign bid partners and are competing against a third consortium from Japan and Spain. UGL has about 2000 staff in Queensland – one-fifth of its Australian workforce."