QLD:Labor, LNP battle on economic credentials

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2011
QLD:Labor, LNP battle on economic credentials

By Kym Agius

BRISBANE, April 6 AAP - Queensland MPs have spent the morning arguing over which side
of politics is the worst economic manager.

The opposition used question time in parliament on Wednesday to attack the government's
debt levels, saying Liberal National Party leader Campbell Newman did a better job managing
the budget as mayor of the Brisbane City Council.

LNP parliamentary leader Jeff Seeney asked why the state Labor government's total debt
this year was 122 per cent of its annual budget, compared to 37 per cent at the council.

The questions were met with loud heckling from Labor MPs.

"I wonder who wrote that question?" Ms Bligh told parliament with a laugh.

Mr Newman cannot participate in parliament until he wins a seat and is leading his
party to the election from the outside.

The former mayor has said he will work with LNP members from the sidelines of parliament
to script questions.

The debate over financial credibility descended into an exchange of accusations.

Mr Seeney said the health crisis, water crisis and the Traveston Dam bungle had contributed
to the state's debt level.

"Does the premier believe that ... the financial management record of the state Labor
government ... has been a disaster when compared with the financial management record
of the Brisbane City Council led by Campbell Newman?" he asked Ms Bligh.

The premier hit back saying Mr Newman, as mayor, put $750 million into the Clem7 tunnel,
which nobody uses and is now in receivership.

"The former mayor of Brisbane has been out borrowing, borrowing, borrowing, committing
money for his pet projects," Ms Bligh said.

"It means that from 2008 and 2015 the debt levels of the Brisbane City Council will
rise by 427 per cent."

LNP deputy Tim Nicholls attacked Treasurer Andrew Fraser, saying he had plunged the
state into $52 billion of debt.

Mr Fraser said hard decisions, such as spending money on hospital upgrades, the northern
busway, and duplicating the Gateway bridge, had to be made to save jobs.

"We stood up at a time when Queensland needed it most. We committed to a building project
that kept more than 100,000 people working in the state," Mr Fraser told parliament.

He said the council had failed in the airport link, Clem 7 tunnel and the Go Between
Bridge and Queenslanders should be wary of Mr Newman's financial capabilities if he ever
became premier.

"We say to the people in Queensland, to the people in Townsville and Cairns, that see
Campbell Newman coming their way, don't let Campbell Newman do to Cairns and Townsville
what he's done to Brisbane," Mr Fraser said.

Mr Newman is due to appear before the media after question time on Wednesday afternoon.

AAP ka/jmm/tnf/jhp

KEYWORD: PARLY QLD

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