June 11, 2019
Opposition Leader and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington said the 2019-20 State Budget had locked in higher taxes, more debt, less jobs and less infrastructure for Queensland.
“After five years in power, all Labor is delivering is higher taxes, more debt, less jobs and less infrastructure,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Treasurer Jackie Trad has piled more than $3.45 billion in extra taxes and charges on Queenslanders in just two Budgets.
“Every dollar Labor takes from Queenslanders hurts the economy and destroys jobs. When Labor run out of money, they come after yours.
“This Budget alone will rip $1.25 billion out of the Queensland economy through new taxes and tax hikes over the next four years.
“Nowhere has ever taxed its way to prosperity.”
Ms Frecklington said debt was soaring to a staggering $90 billion.
“Labor’s debt represents a burden of $16,795 for each and every man, woman and child in Queensland,” she said.
“The debt bomb means billions of dollars will be unavailable in the future for natural disaster recovery or infrastructure projects, and there will be less money for nurses, teachers and police.
“Jackie Trad has jeoparadised the future of Queensland to save the skins of Labor MPs at the next election.”
Mrs Frecklington said the great Labor lie of this Budget was in infrastructure.
“Labor aren’t borrowing to build – they are borrowing to cover their wasteful spending,” she said.
“Labor’s IT projects are now almost half-a-billion dollars over budget. They’re fixated on changing the name Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital and they’ve slugged taxpayers a fortune for lectures by Al Gore.
“Labor’s Budget actually cuts infrastructure spending by $23 million in the budget year and over the forward estimates.
“There’s also a $500 million reduction in infrastructure spending in 2019-20 compared to previous forecasts.
“Labor is delivering less infrastructure, but more debt. Queensland has the lowest infrastructure investment as a percentage of revenue in the nation.”
She said the State Government had forgotten regional Queensland.
“The other great lie of the budget is that it is for regional Queensland. The money Labor is actually spending on infrastructure is being funnelled into a handful of inner-Brisbane electorates for their pet project Cross River Rail,” she said.
“Labor is ignoring the infrastructure needs of regional Queensland.
“At the same time, Labor is holding the resources industry to ransom and holding back projects Central and North Queensland are relying on new jobs.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government is anti-resources, anti-regions and anti-jobs.”
Mrs Frecklington said her Budget Reply speech on Thursday would outline her vision for Queensland and plan to create jobs and opportunities in every corner of the State.
