Deputy Opposition Leader
Deb Frecklington

July 19, 2017

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington has questioned the worth of the State Government’s $400 million Works For Queensland program, saying the government had refused to say how many real jobs were being created.

The program, which was extended for another two years in June, has been praised by Councils who have been receiving grants for job-creating maintenance and minor infrastructure projects.

However, Mrs Frecklington said Deputy Premier Jackie Trad had refused to answer questions in a Parliamentary Estimates hearing on Wednesday about how many real jobs had been created so far.

She said Deputy Premier Trad’s “feeble and, at times, obstructionist” responses had revealed the program as “nothing more than a cruel hoax on Queenslanders”.

“Jackie Trad refused to answer how it was possible for Labor to have claimed its Works for Queensland program had created two jobs from the installation of three rubbish bins in Townsville at a cost of $5000,” Mrs Frecklington said.

“(She) refused to explain how $20,000 worth of signage at a dog park would support three jobs.”

Other projects highlighted by Mrs Frecklington were:

  • Thirty jobs to construct a dog park
  • Eight jobs to construct a 500m long footpath
  • Five jobs to top dress an oval

“It’s clear Labor’s jobs ‘spin’ is a cruel hoax on Queenslanders, especially regional Queenslanders who are desperate to find a job,” Mrs Frecklington said.

“These positions clearly aren’t full-time jobs and these are just cheap headlines from a do-nothing Labor Government.”

In reply, Deputy Premier Trad pointed to the LNP’s track record of cutting 14,000 public service positions during the last government, before then bringing South Burnett Mayor Keith Campbell’s name into her argument. From Hansard:

Ms Trad: “If the member for Nanango wants to quote somebody, she should be quoting the Mayor in her own community, in her own seat of Nanango. South Burnett Mayor Keith Campbell — 

Mrs Frecklington: I raise a point of order, Mr Chair. Does the Deputy Premier—

Ms Trad: Her own mayor, Keith Campbell, said—

Chair: If you are going to keep this up, we will go down the backstairs and have a talk about it. This is getting a little bit out of hand with people yelling at one another.

Ms Trad: In conclusion, can I say that the South Burnett mayor, the mayor within the member for Nanango’s own seat, Keith Campbell, in relation to the Works for Queensland package said: 

I am absolutely delighted with the stimulus package as it is intended for job creation purposes …

I want to acknowledge the Palaszczuk Government for recognising that our region is one that suffers from unemployment.

This money will be well used within our region.

I am yet to find one Mayor or one Councillor who has said that this program is rubbish.

I have yet to meet one single person in one community who says that the jobs created out of the Works for Queensland package and the projects identified by councils are rubbish.

All this says to me is that come the next election Tim Nicholls and Deb Frecklington will have an election commitment to axe Works for Queensland.”

Related articles:


 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.