Queensland’s opposition will have to cut 17,000 jobs in its first term to fulfil an election promise and eliminate the state deficit, the Labor government says.
Liberal National Party leader David Crisafulli is on track to win the October 26 election and end Labor’s nine-year reign.
He is vying to become the LNP’s first Queensland premier since Campbell Newman, who was ousted in 2015 after one term following thousands of public service job cuts.
Deputy Premier Cameron Dick said the LNP would have to wield the axe again to fulfil Crisafulli’s promise of delivering fiscal surplus and drive down forecasted debt and deficits.
“The budget is in an operating deficit this year, $2.6 billion this year, and $515 million next financial year,” Dick said.
“If David Crisafulli does not want to borrow for operational costs, then he must immediately cut $3 billion from the Queensland budget.
“David Crisafulli has promised to eliminate that fiscal deficit … [and] will need to cut 17,000 jobs in the first term of a Crisafulli government to eliminate that fiscal deficit.”
The Labor government has spruiked its up-to-date costings and favourable credit rating as it tries to make ground on the LNP in polling.
In his June budget, Dick forecast a $2.6 billion budget deficit for 2024-25 because of its concession-spending splurge.
Total concessions in the nine years under Labor are $11.2 billion with deficits forecast for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 financial years, before returning to surplus the following.
The government’s election costings commitments sit at $8.9 billion with Dick indicating the opposition’s are more than $17 billion.
Crisafulli has come under fire from the government during the election campaign for not releasing his costings.
He has given some indication on his cost-cutting approach, pointing to Labor’s proposed pumped-hydro Pioneer-Burdekin project. It has been estimated to cost at least $12 billion.
The LNP leader said cost may blow out to $24 billion, and has pledged to scrap the project entirely if elected and opt for smaller alternatives.
“Debt will be lower under the LNP because we will have respect for people’s money, and the days of blowing budgets will be a thing of the past,” Crisafulli said.
“If you continue to grow an economy and you don’t blow projects out and you don’t continue to grow debt, well, then debt becomes less of a burden for Queenslanders.”
Budget papers revealed Queensland was heading toward $172 billion in total debt by 2027-28, revised from $188 billion.
-AAP
Live News
