COSTELLO REPORT RISKS ‘BUY LOCAL’ EFFORTS

Media Release.

Deputy Opposition Leader and Member for Mackay, Tim Mulherin, says the LNP’s secret Costello Audit report could torpedo the Newman Government’s own “buy local” campaign.

“While the Premier is spruiking a ‘buy local’ message his own Treasurer is sitting on a secret report that could see up to $6 billion in government purchases being spent outside Queensland,” Mr Mulherin said.

“We know that the still-secret Costello Audit report advocates asset sales, and the privatisation which includes outsourcing of government services.

“Once government services are sold or privatised through outsourcing, there is no doubt that the private owners or providers of those services will not only cut jobs, but will also centralise their buying to ensure they make a profit.

“Any purchasing that is now done locally in regional centres will be centralised in Brisbane, or will go directly to interstate or overseas suppliers.

“The state government spends around $6 billion a year on goods and services alone, so while the Premier wants to encourage a ‘buy local’ approach his own government is actively sabotaging that approach.”

Mr Mulherin said the failure of the Newman Government’s leadership team to release the LNP’s secret Costello Audit report showed how little they cared for Queenslanders who would lose their jobs or regional business operators who would see a drop in trade through asset sales, privatisation and outsourcing.

“The LNP leadership team has had the final Costello Audit report for more than a month yet it is still being withheld from the taxpayers who footed a $3,300-a-day bill for Liberal party activist Peter Costello to draft the report,” he said.

“Queenslanders deserve better than to be kept in the dark on the report’s push for asset sales, privatisation, and outsourcing of government services that will cause job cuts as the government walks away from its responsibilities.”