Open Government Starts With The Premier

Media Release.

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says the Premier should prove his commitment to open government by releasing all information about plans for a new casino in Brisbane and the related sale of public assets.

Ms Palaszczuk said the Premier’s own actions in sacking library staff in a range of government agencies would itself hamper any plans for public access to government information.

“Like every other commitment he makes, the Premier’s embrace of open government rings hollow,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“This is the same Premier who has never been open with the 14,000 government workers he has sacked or the frontline community groups whose funding he has axed.

“It is the same Premier whose Ministers refuse to release the most basic information in response to Right to Information applications.

“It is the same Premier who has sacked library staff in key departments including Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; Public Works and Housing; and Education Queensland.

“Exactly how does the Premier think his plan to access information will work without such experienced staff?”

Ms Palaszczuk said Queenslanders should be concerned about a Premier who continued to give top priority to a new Executive Building for himself and his Ministers, and an extra casino.

“I know these are not the priorities of communities in regional Queensland. People I talk to there can’t understand why the Premier and his Treasurer could find $3.5 million in his State Budget to start planning the new Executive Building while sacking 14,000 people and cutting frontline services.”

Ms Palaszczuk said openness and transparency were vital when dealing with casino licensing.

“We already know the Treasurer Tim Nicholls has accepted hospitality from one casino promoter, which is why the Premier’s first commitment to open government should be to tell Queenslanders all he knows about plans for a casino smack in the middle of the George Street heritage precinct,” she said.

“Exactly what are is his plans and why is he giving it a priority?

“He is also talking about demolishing buildings and building casinos, but what is the future of historic public assets such as The Mansion, Harris Terrace, the Old Government Printery, and the building now used as the Public Service Club?” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Breakaway Backbencher Puts Premier To The Test

Media Release.

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says concerns expressed by an LNP backbencher about the Newman Government’s Budget strategy require the Premier to say what value he puts on his own MPs and those who voted for them.

“First it was Vaughan Johnson and now Ted Malone. It is clear there is unrest within LNP ranks about the impact its Budget is having, especially in regional Queensland,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

On ABC Radio this morning the Member for Mirani, Ted Malone, questioned the whole basis of the Newman Government’s strategy by referring to the “rush” to implement mass sackings and savage cuts to frontline services.

Mr Malone said: “I just think there’s been quite a rush to implement some program and some directions that I don’t believe are in line with what the government is trying to achieve and I think that through myself and others, we need to be taking back to the Minister and Department some of the issues on the ground and try get some clear understanding on where the cuts should be made.”

Ms Palaszczuk said it was now up to the Premier to declare if he would listen to MPs like Mr Malone.

“This is shaping up as a true test of the Premier and is a clear indication of tensions over his leadership,” she said.

“Will the Premier listen to his own MPs who are raising concerns about the impact his sackings and funding cuts are having on their local communities, local families, and local business operators?” she said.

“Or will he continue to arrogantly ignore them?

“It is notable that it has been the more experienced regional MPs like Mr Malone and the Member for Gregory, Mr Johnson, who are speaking up against the LNP’s sackings and frontline cuts.

“The new MPs from the ‘Class of 2012’ appear to be a lost cause and have greatly disappointed those who voted for them.

“They sit in silence and say nothing and do nothing to protect their local communities.

“But longer-serving MPs know the impacts the government’s sackings and frontline cuts are having on local people and local economies.

“It is now for the Premier to say if he is prepared to listen to his MPs or if he will continue to ignore those who voted for him and continue to break election promises,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

 

ANY cuts to Electrical Safety Office (ESO) will increase electrocution risks … ETU 

 

Union fears more on the way as Government takes axe to safety

Media Release.

Any loss of life due to savage cuts to workplace and electrical safety regimes will be on the Premiers head the Electrical Trades Union said today.
In a scathing attack on the Newman Governments lack of experience and a total disregard for workplace and public safety the ETU has urged the premier to come clean and tell Queenslanders why the Government is attacking safety.
ETU Deputy Secretary Keith McKenzie expressed outrage that the Government had a Bill before parliament that will take the axe to Electrical Safety Act first implemented in 2002.
“The Act came in place following recommendations from a taskforce report into the number of deaths caused by electricity, this Bill before parliament will take the axe to the significant provisions of the Act”
The Bill will abolish the role of “Commissioner of Electrical Safety as well as the Electrical Safety Education Committee and the Electrical Equipment Committee. The latest attack on safety comes hot on the heels of the August leaked document outlining cuts to the justice administration. Hidden in the wording of that document was a seemingly innocuous statement that outlined major cuts to safety regimes.
“Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and The Electrical Safety Office inspectorate numbers will be reviewed to bring them into line with Victorian and New South Wales”
However according to the ETU a closer look at the numbers shows this “review” has already factored in a massive reduction in inspectorate numbers and savings of $3 m over 2 years.
“This is yet another example of this government taking the axe to a crucial frontline service that played a vital role in rebuilding Queensland after the recent natural disasters a service that does the essential tasks of checking safety switches and wiring, any reduction in these functions will put Queenslanders at risk. If the premier fails to rethink these massive cuts to this front line service, his government will be exposed to a “pink batts” type crisis and the inevitable increase in health and safety related - work stoppages, injuries and deaths”
“Any reduction in already stretched ESO and Workplace Health & Safety inspector numbers will increase the risks of electrocution, particularly in light of the massive rollout of solar panels with 110,000 Queenslanders lodging applications with either Energex or Ergon in the two weeks before the July 9 cut-off,” he said.
For further comment
Keith McKenzie (ETU Deputy Secretary) 0419 721 056
Scott Reichman (ETU State organiser) 0437 184 399
Andrew Irvine (Media officer) 0448 633 858

Help for Queensland workers

THE HON BILL SHORTEN MP

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations

THE HON kate ellis MP

Minister for Employment Participation

MEDIA RELEASE

18 September 2012

The Gillard Government is rolling out immediate and targeted support in Queensland in the wake of the State Government’s decision to axe 14,000 public sector jobs.

Employment Minister Bill Shorten said the $850,000 package is aimed at helping axed workers find new jobs and minimise the flow-on impacts to non-government organisations that will no longer have access to State Government funding to deliver services to Queenslanders.

“The Gillard Government stands for job creation and since 2007, around 800,000 jobs have been created in Australia, an outstanding result given the disappearance of millions of jobs in the rest of the world,” Mr Shorten said.

“Making the hard choices about our economy isn’t about cuts to schools and hospitals and tearing away frontline services. That’s no way to build a stronger economy that delivers for all Australians.”

“Without our public sector workforce and the hard work they do, Australia would not be as modern, would not be as fair, would not be as safe, well governed and would not be as compassionate.”

“Unlike Conservative governments we do not blame council and state workers for all the problems in the world.”

“The Australian Government is taking action to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Queensland community to make sure they get back on their feet and that more Queenslanders are working.”

Mr Shorten said immediate Australian Government assistance available to workers made redundant as a result of the Queensland Government cuts includes: 

•  Three of the Government’s highly successful Jobs and Skills Expos in the coming weeks in Brisbane, Townsville and Ipswich-Logan; and  
•  over 30 information and assistance workshops on job seeking, assistance and support across mostly regional locations for workers and for non-government/Community Providers affected by Queensland Government public service cuts.

Minister for Employment Participation Kate Ellis said the Expos will bring together employers, employment services providers and training organisations with job seekers on one day – creating a one-stop-shop for jobs and training.

“The Australian Government has delivered 58 Jobs and Skills Expos and we know that they work because we’ve now seen more than 21,000 Australians find employment at them and many thousands more sign up for training opportunities,” Ministers Ellis said.

“We’re going to work to use this successful program to assist those 14,000 Queenslanders who’ve been axed by Campbell Newman and build on the great results these Expos have delivered.”

Mr Shorten said the jobs and information workshops will be developed and delivered by experienced private sector employment experts, together with the Australian Government’s Local Employment Coordinators, Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Co-ordinators and other officials from DEEWR and DHS and will also include information about how to access financial and mental health counselling if required.

“These programs will see Australian Government departments come together to provide access to real jobs and the financial and emotional support that is now required by so many in Queensland.”

Premier Out Of Touch With Those He’s Sacked

 A media release from the QLD Labor Opposition:

 

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says Premier Campbell Newman has shown how arrogant and out of touch he is by claiming no government worker has been sacked.

“The Premier’s bizarre statement shows he still hasn’t got a clue about the pain and anguish he is inflicting on Queensland families,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“If you have a job with this government and this government takes it off you, I think you have grounds to say you have been sacked.

“The fact is no government and no Premier has previously said they were cutting up to 20,000 jobs.

“It was never a matter of calling for expressions of interest, the Premier always put it in terms of having 20,000 too many employees and they had to go.

“Now in the face of community opposition about the 14,000 jobs finally identified for culling, the Premier resorts to word games in an effort to save his own job.

“I suggest he goes and asks the 14,000 whose jobs are disappearing whether they feel if they have been sacked or not,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

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Fitch Confirms Downgrade Belongs To The LNP

Shadow Treasurer Curtis Pitt says the downgrade to Queensland’s credit rating is the responsibility of the LNP government – as warned by ratings agency Fitch in March.

“As Fitch Ratings noted in its last regular assessment, the latest ratings downgrade is all the LNP’s own work,” Mr Pitt said.

He said Fitch Ratings’ last regular assessment of the state issued on 26 March this year had stated:

“Queensland's new government has pledged to address the challenges of budgetary recovery and debt growth. Its ability to do this successfully will be an important component of our assessment of the state's rating, Fitch Ratings says.”

“In other words, Fitch warned that any of its ratings issues after March would be the responsibility of the LNP government,” Mr Pitt said.

“That means responsibility for the latest ratings downgrade rests squarely with the Newman Government and in particular Treasurer Tim Nicholls.

“It really is becoming rather sad to hear Mr Nicholls continually blaming the previous government for what Fitch has clearly said is his responsibility.”

He said the Treasurer needed to wake up and realise that he was no longer in Opposition.

“The fact is this week he delivered his first Budget and he needs to take responsibility for it.”

Mr Pitt said the Treasurer on ABC TV’s 730 Queensland on Tuesday night Mr Nicholls had agreed the 2012 State Budget drew “a line in the sand” and that the LNP would “take full responsibility for the decisions we’ve made in this Budget”.

“Quite simply, it is time Mr Nicholls lived up to his word,” Mr Pitt said.

Mr Pitt said in March Fitch had also commented on the state’s fiscal position and said:

“The outgoing [Labor] administration has taken initial steps to rectify the situation, reviewing the [capital expenditure] programme and using asset sale proceeds to cut borrowing. The most recent budget aims to lower debt despite recent natural disasters, including severe flooding and cyclones, and sluggish economic growth.”

“In other words, the previous government had taken steps to restore the Budget position,” Mr Pitt said.

“This is totally contrary to what Mr Nicholls has been repeatedly claiming.”

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LNP can’t distance itself from 14,000 sackings

The desperate LNP Government has attempted to distance itself from 14,000 devastating public sector sackings by offensively comparing their jobs purge to voluntary redundancies.

Shadow Treasurer Curtis Pitt said the shocking move by the LNP Health Minister was an insult to those public servants he had helped sack earlier this week who – unlike those offered redundancies under the former Labor Government – had been stripped of not only their jobs, but their dignity.

Mr Pitt said it was another desperate attempt to throw a smoke screen around not only job cuts but a backbench rebellion on rural fire job cuts, ripping pyjamas away from the sick and Clive Palmer’s attack on the Premier.

“The truth of the matter is that the Labor Government asked a pool of non-frontline workers if they would like to be considered for redundancy under our government’s measured Voluntary Separation Program,” Mr Pitt said.

“The key words here are “asked”, “considered” and “measured”.

“Unlike this cruel LNP Government which ambushed and sacked 14,000 people by email or telephone call, we went to our public sector workers and informed them voluntary separation was available if they wanted to be considered.

“We asked the pool of non-frontline workers, if they would like to be considered as part of the 3,500 VSP program.

“We did not ask teachers or doctors or nurses or police officers or anyone else on the frontline.

“These offers were made only to workers whose separation from the public sector would not impact on services.

“Ultimately up to 9,000 workers indicated they would like to receive an offer and 3,500 workers were given a package.”

Mr Pitt 40,000 public servants were identified as non-front line but at no stage had these jobs been under threat.

He said it was subsequently announced in the Mid Year Review that a further 1,500 offers would be available, taking the total of voluntary separations to 5,000.

“All of this is on the public record – no-one was sacked.

“People were asked - you cannot make an offer if you do not ask.

“To say that our government set out to sack 41,000 people is desperate, ill-informed and is yet another testament to this government’s twisted logic.”

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Dempsey Slashes Rural Firies In Half

Shadow Emergency Services Minister Bill Byrne says Emergency Service Minister Jack Dempsey needs to explain how the Queensland Rural Fire Service will continue to protect Queenslanders after announcing half of its staff positions supporting volunteers on the frontline are being axed.

“Reports of 45 of the 79 uniformed staff and 56 of the 117 support staff being axed next year is very alarming and runs the risk of putting at risk property and lives, including those of volunteer fire fighters,” Mr Byrne said.

“We have all heard the warnings about the dangers of the up-coming fire season. Conditions point to a testing season, with fuel loads high after two wet seasons and a dry winter.

“Mr Dempsey needs to explain why he is so confident that the same dangerous conditions won’t exist next year or the year after and in future years.

“He needs to explain why reducing professional staff won’t put family homes, farms, business premises and lives at risk.

“Mr Dempsey and the LNP Government has failed to acknowledge the vital service rural firies perform and have again axed a frontline service.

“Those being sacked help train the volunteer force to fight fires across the state making this announcement a massive blow to morale, rippling right across Queensland.

“The Rural Fire Service is responsible for 93% of the state and comprises more than 34,000 volunteers.

“This is a slap in the face for rural firies who every year perform courageous acts all over Queensland with little recognition,” he said.

Mr Byrne said the Minister might consider reductions in training standards or the removal of educational officer’s part of his commitment to reduce red tape.

“Mr Dempsey might also view the implementation of recommendations, such as those that come from the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, as just another piece of red tape.

“Many Queenslanders would be very alarmed that the LNP Government are scrapping recommendations from the Royal Commission into Black Saturday.”

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Trickiest Budget In A Generation

Shadow Treasurer Curtis Pitt says the 2012 State Budget proves the Newman Government’s scrapping of 14,000 jobs and savage cuts to frontline services are not paying down debt but are helping fund LNP election promises.

“This is the trickiest State Budget in a generation delivered by the meanest government in a generation,” Mr Pitt said.

“It is based entirely on the now widely discredited, made-to-measure projections of its highly politicised Costello Commission of Audit.

”I find it difficult to believe that Tim Nicholls said it was an ‘exciting time to be Treasurer’ on the day his own Budget slashes 14,000 jobs.

“The LNP thinks the people in those jobs are mere speed bumps and they are pleased to see them in the rear-view mirror as the government moves on to cut or outsource more jobs and frontline services.”

Mr Pitt said Tim Nicholls would go down in history as the Treasurer who delivered the largest deficit in Queensland’s history — $6.294 billion this financial year including $800 million in redundancy payments.

“This is just one way in which the Budget Papers reveal the mean and tricky nature of the Treasurer and the LNP government.

“Instead of using data from the independent Queensland Treasury, Mr Nicholls has relied on the flawed, made-to-measure projections of Peter Costello to again mislead Queenslanders.

“The Treasurer’s own Budget papers also confirm that Labor left office with debt at $62 billion despite the repeated claims by the LNP of a $65 billion debt.”

Mr Pitt said the State Budget outlined almost a carbon copy of the debt-reduction strategy planned by the former government.

“Why is it a ‘debt binge’ when Labor borrows to build infrastructure and creat jobs, but not when the LNP does it?” he said.

“This roughly parallels Labor’s strategy previously outlined by Queensland Treasury that was to see debt peak in 2014-15 at $85 billion.

“Then it would wind down once the level of spending on Labor’s once-in-a-generation infrastructure was also reduced to the more usual levels of less than $10 billion a year.

“The difference is that Labor was never planning to cut 14,000 jobs including frontline positions such as nurses across Queensland.

“The only conclusion is that the LNP’s mass sackings and cuts to frontline services have been to fund the LNP’s election commitments.”

Mr Pitt said the Treasurer’s statements suggested the LNP’s jobs purge was not yet over.

“Mr Nicholls refers to even more jobs going, which means more families without a pay-packet and more communities and local economies feeling the impacts of reduced spending and a drop in confidence.”

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Cairns The Big Loser In LNP State Budget

The first LNP State Budget has today officially wiped Cairns off the funding map with the scrapping of major infrastructure projects and critical underfunding of others.

Shadow Treasurer Curtis Pitt said the Member for Cairns Gavin King had now officially lost more than $90 million for the people of Cairns with further implications across Far North Queensland

“Mr King has lost the $57.3 million Cairns Entertainment Precinct and $33 million worth of investment in the Cairns CBD upgrade, with the LNP only allocating $5 million for the CBD upgrade,” Mr Pitt said.

“The people of Cairns should be incredibly disappointed that Mr King has let the LNP Government rip infrastructure investment out of Far North Queensland.

“This will have wide-ranging impact on jobs and industry in the whole Far North region.

“Although the LNP Government has committed to $40 million for the Trinity Inlet dredging project, this is well short of the expected cost of between $80-100 million.

“The LNP is also claiming that 75 per cent of all infrastructure spending will be outside of Brisbane when in reality this is a truly SEQ-centric Budget.

“The truth is that 70 per cent of that funding will be spent within a four hour drive of Brisbane, leaving the Far North out of the equation.

“Additionally the water rebate will be enjoyed only by SEQ residents.

“Of course all of this is on top of the major slash and burn exercise by this LNP Government which has today seen 14,000 public sector workers shows the door, including more than 4100 for the critical Health area – a far cry from the 2750 workers announced just days ago.

“That has enormous, devastating ramifications for all Queensland regions, including the Far North.

“Sacking health and road workers across the state only means a bigger infrastructure spend in the southern regions.”

Mr Pitt said the State Budget had exposed the mean and tricky nature of the LNP Government through its recycling of Labor Government initiatives.

“In particular the $2.5 million for the Water Police catamaran for Cairns, $1.2 million Millaa Millaa fire station and $3.3 million for the Mareeba fire station announced as LNP projects were started and initially funded in last year’s budget by the previous Labor government,” he said.

“The $1.25 million for the SES headquarters was also a Labor Government election commitment.

“The $28.3 million to expand and redevelop the Lotus Glen Correctional Centre is a continuation of the previous Labor Government’s investment.

“The investment in Lotus Glen is also the height of hypocrisy by the LNP Government as they have already moth-balled 90 new cells which were completed by the previous Labor Government.”

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Nothing For Rocky In Tricky Slash And Burn Budget

The first LNP Government State Budget has delivered nothing for Rockhampton but a rehash and continuation of Labor Government initiatives and projects, short-changing the people of Central Queensland.

Rockhampton MP Bill Byrne said the State Budget had exposed the mean and tricky nature of the LNP Government through its recycling of Labor Government initiatives.

“We were lead to believe this would be a Budget that addressed cost of living issues but the Premier and his Treasurer are nowhere to be seen on this,” Mr Byrne said.

“This is a Budget that does nothing but deliver misery, does nothing but slash and axe jobs 14,000 jobs.

“The Treasurer can dress that number up any way he wants but the truth is thousands of those jobs are from the frontline – more than 4,000 in health alone.

“Let’s not forget today – in fact let’s not ever forget – that history will record this day as the day Campbell Newman and Tim Nicholls showed 14,000 public sector workers the door and told them not to come back on Monday.”

Mr Byrne said the State Budget had also exposed the LNP as a cynical recycler of former Labor Government initiatives.

“There’s nothing in this Budget for our region – indeed for all of Queensland – except job losses and bad news for people trying to pay the rent, pay their mortgage and put their kids through school.

“And critically, they have failed to give Rockhampton a fair go.

“They have merely committed to building projects initiated by the Labor Government and dressing them up as their own announcements.

“In particular, funding for the Rocky Hospital redevelopment and the $4 million replacement fire station and the new $3 million ambulance station for Emerald dressed up today as LNP projects were started and initially funded in last year’s budget by the previous Labor government.”

A mean and tricky LNP Budget

A media release from Shadow Treasurer Curtis Pitt MP:

The LNP Budget is an attack on working Queenslanders, with more frontline jobs cut and services across Queensland slashed.

The destructive cuts to infrastructure and the reckless slashing of skills programs and vital frontline health and education services is a devastating slap in the face to Queenslanders and will be felt across the state.

The LNP slash and burn approach is not only hurting frontline services but is also threatening the broader economy.

In fact, the LNP’s own budget papers confirm that their cuts to investment and culling of jobs will slow economic growth in the coming years.

Queenslanders will rightly be left wondering – what was the point of all this pain and suffering if it only leads to slower growth?

The truth is that this is not an economic strategy – it is a political strategy to portray the new Premier as tough on the budget.

The problem is his reckless and irresponsible cuts are significantly damaging the economy, not strengthening it.

The worst thing is that the LNP is doing it with a smile. After announcing he was sacking more than 14,000 people, Treasurer Tim Nichols said "this is an exciting time to be the Treasurer of Queensland."

What a cold-hearted Government to be excited about sacking thousands more workers

It has been revealed that there are now more than 4,100 health jobs going rather than the 2,750 we were advised of last week – this is just tricky and will have an impact on communities right across the State.

It is clear that they have sacked thousands of public servants to pay for their election commitments. And there will be more to come.

The LNP are using discredited figures from the Costello Audit to claim that they are radically reducing debt, while in fact the LNP are increasing debt by more than $20 billion over the forward estimates, similar figures to those planned under Labor.

Why is it a “debt binge” when Labor borrowed to build infrastructure and create jobs, but not when the LNP does it to pay for their unfunded election promises?

The LNP are criticising Labor for investing in infrastructure but they are patting themselves on the back for projects across the state that Labor planned and budgeted for.

The LNP government have revealed their true priorities. They have scrapped the payroll apprentice and trainee rebate scheme and sacked frontline health staff so they could deliver a tax break to business with a payroll of up to $5.5 million.

This is a budget that attacks workers, cuts services and threatens economic growth.

The Official Budget Reply will be delivered by Leader of the Opposition Annastacia Palaszczuk on Thursday afternoon 2:30pm and more information will be provided in the coming days. We will be going through the Budget with a fine comb because we know this is a mean and tricky LNP budget and the devil is in the detail.

Curtis Pitt MP
Shadow Treasurer
Member for Mulgrave

LNP says it's OK – it’s only 14,000 broken promises!

A media release from Shadow Treasurer Curtis Pitt:

Shadow Treasurer Curtis Pitt says the arrogance of the Newman Government has again left people wondering after the Treasurer flippantly claims it is OK to sack 14,000 people not 20,000.

"These are 14,000 people whose lives the Premier and his Treasurer have the audacity to ruin because they otherwise can't fund his election promises," Mr Pitt said.

“The fact that the Treasurer is trying to reassure people that it is OK he is firing 14,000 people is the height of arrogance.

"He is not protecting 6,000 jobs just because he floated a figure of 20,000. He is sacking 14,000 jobs and as shown yesterday, many are in frontline service roles in vital community facilities such as our hospitals.

“Regardless of the number of jobs they’re axing these are people’s lives the Premier and Treasurer are playing with.

"They also represent 14,000 broken promises because before the election the Premier said those same 14,000 people had nothing to fear from him or the LNP.

“A couple of days ahead of the budget the LNP Government is trying to downplay the damage they are doing to future generations of Queenslanders,” he said.

Mr Pitt said the cold hard fact is these cuts and others are to fund LNP election promises despite a succession of LNP excuses, each of which had been shown to be false.

"First it was because of the state’s so-called '$100 billion debt. Yet five LNP MPs have had to apologise to parliament for recycling that false claim from the Costello Audit.

"Then the Premier said the cuts were needed because the government was borrowing to pay the wages of government workers. One of his own Costello Audit members told the Industrial Commission under oath that was not the case.

"The Premier repeatedly claimed the government had 20,000 more workers than it could afford to pay. Now he says he won’t be sacking that many.

"The Premier and Treasurer have talked about the previous government’s 'debt binge' as an excuse for their mass sackings. But they have committed to the same level of debt as Labor by 2014-15 and last month they borrowed more than $1.65 billion with no mention of a 'debt binge'.

"The fact is the LNP never told the truth before the election – that it would cut frontline jobs and services to pay for its election promises,” Mr Pitt said.