NICHOLLS’ ECONOMIC WOES CONTINUE AS STATE ECONOMY DIVES

Media Release

The LNP’s economic credentials continue to lie in tatters following the release today of State Final Demand figures showing the Queensland economy contracted 1.8% over the past year, seasonally adjusted, the second worst result in the nation.
Shadow Treasurer Curtis Pitt said the massive downturn over the September Quarter was the worst result for Queensland since September 2009 in the middle of the GFC and that the contraction was bad news for jobseekers and retailers in the lead up to Christmas.
“With Premier Newman and Treasurer Tim Nicholls calling the shots, Queensland’s economy contracted by 1.4% in just one quarter and 1.8% over the year,” he said.
“The only talent Mr Nicholls seems to possess is for breaking or equalling records set during the GFC."
“What we’re seeing in Queensland at the moment is the nation’s highest unemployment, higher than it has been in 11 years."
“We’re also seeing massive increases in cost of living under the LNP’s watch."
“Clearly, Campbell Newman and Tim Nicholls have failed to deliver their promise of 4% unemployment."
“Mr Nicholls has even laughed it off as just a ‘stretch target’, which shows the LNP was never serious about creating jobs. All it ever wanted to do was sack people."
“The first step in coping with the increasing cost of living is having a job and that’s getting harder and harder under the LNP."
“The LNP have put their eggs in one basket and cut jobs programs like Skilling Queenslanders for Work."
“They’ve sacked 24,000 government workers and their only plan is to sell Queensland’s assets. Selling assets will mean more job cuts and even higher electricity prices and it will also mean sacrificing $2 billion a year in revenue."
“Even Campbell Newman said earlier this year that job losses ‘happen in privatisation’.”
Mr Pitt said the LNP was out of ideas and focussed more on self-promotion than addressing Queensland’s economic problems.
“The LNP’s recycled education announcement today is exactly what was said as far back as April last year,” Mr Pitt said.
“And taxpayers continue to pay for the LNP’s asset sales ads and all manner of other political propaganda."

“Perhaps the millions being wasted on advertising and secretly preparing assets for sale could be re-directed to job creation instead of self-promotion.”