Booklet proves state’s not a basket case

July 22nd, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

The Newman government has been spruiking the strength of Queensland’s economy to overseas investors while telling residents the state’s a basket case, the opposition says.

Labor treasury spokesman Curtis Pitt says a Queensland Treasury Corporation booklet aimed at potential overseas investors says Queensland is in a strong economic position.

“Nowhere is there mention of a high dive into the abyss, or debt crisis, or any similar claims that (Treasurer Tim Nicholls) and the premier have been making at home,” Mr Pitt said in a statement on Sunday.

“If it is good enough to tell investors the truth, it is good enough for the premier and the treasurer to tell Queenslanders the truth and to stop talking down our state economy.”

The Liberal National Party (LNP) publication cites ratings agency Standard Poor’s (SP) as saying Queensland has a far lower level of general government debt relative to operating revenue compared with its international peers, Mr Pitt says.

SP is also cited as saying the amount of money spent by Queensland on interest payments, as a percentage of revenue, is also comparatively low.

He said the book proves Labor left office with a manageable debt in the wake of the global financial crisis.

Mr Pitt also said former federal treasurer Peter Costello’s audit proves the government is cutting public service jobs to fund election promises.

The audit refers to the LNP’s inability to find $5.7 billion to fund its election commitments without resorting to downsizing the workforce.

Mr Pitt said Mr Newman and Mr Nicholls should have told Queenslanders before the election that money to fund the LNP’s promises would come from cutting 20,000 public servants.

Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls and Deputy Treasurer Jeff Seeney were unavailable for comment on Sunday afternoon.