TIME TO STOP LNP’S SUPERCHARGED SPIN OVER QUEENSLAND ECONOMY

Media Release

Premier Campbell Newman’s claim that his government is ‘supercharging the Queensland economy’ is desperate spin without foundation says Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Tim Mulherin.

“Today’s media release from the Premier’s office, which claims Queensland’s economy is out-performing the rest of Australia, is a blatant misrepresentation of the facts to hide the LNP’s dismal record,” said Mr Mulherin.

“It is time the Premier was honest with Queenslanders instead of the shameless deception about his government’s economic performance.

“For him to seize upon one survey of confidence to justify his wildly inflated claims shows how desperate he is to hide the truth about the economy and jobs.

“Under Labor, in 2011-12, the Queensland economy was growing at 4%. This year growth is 3% according to the Newman Government’s own Budget papers.

“But this is only one indicator which proves the LNP’s policies are not working.

“The September Quarter Australian Bureau of Statistics State Accounts showed Queensland’s domestic growth, or state final demand, at 1.8% over the year. When Labor left office, the state final demand was tracking at 7.5% over the year to March Quarter 2012.

“Private investment, business investment and dwelling investment all fell over the quarter, with dwelling investment plunging to its lowest level in more than a decade.

“Household spending is also lower than it was under Labor, reflecting higher unemployment and lower growth in wages.

“The Newman Government’s Budget update in December confirmed an outlook for ‘ongoing consumer caution, along with weaker than expected income growth’ and lower household spending.

“That is not what most people would understand by the term ‘supercharged economy’.

“And when it comes to jobs, the Newman Government continues to pretend that prospects are better than they are. Unemployment under Labor was 5.5% seasonally adjusted. Today it has grown to 5.9% seasonally adjusted.

“No amount of spin can disguise that there are 12,300 fewer full-time jobs in Queensland today than when the LNP was elected.

“The Premier is using trend figures to make a comparison of jobs growth from when unemployment was above global financial crisis levels under the LNP’s own watch in an attempt to persuade people that things are getting better.

“Queenslanders will not be persuaded and will not trust the Premier’s twisted statistics.”