BRISBANE: The Liberal National Party is spending like drunken sailors in its bid to hold on to power in Queensland, Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says.
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Ms Palaszczuk yesterday promised a 25 per cent payroll tax rebate on another worker’s wage for each apprentice employed.
She said unlike her own promises, voters couldn’t trust what Premier Campbell Newman pledged at the LNP launch on Sunday.
‘‘He had a big bucket of money, they’re spending like drunken sailors at the moment,’’ she said.
‘‘They’re spending money all based on asset sales.’’
Mr Newman promised on Sunday to build 22 new schools, reduce water bills, waive open licence fees for provisional licence holders who don’t accrue demerit points and provide up to 500 fee-free degrees.
But Ms Palaszczuk pointed to his poor record on lowering the cost of living and unemployment.
Trend unemployment sits at 6.6 per cent in the state.
‘‘What has this government done, they have sacked workers, they have cut services in health and education, they have slowed the economy,’’ she said.
‘‘This is not the Queensland I want, I want to grow the economy and create jobs.’’
Ms Palaszczuk said the election should not be about the LNP’s promises, but whether public assets should be kept in public hands.
‘‘If you want to change this government you must vote for Labor,’’ she added.
The opposition leader wouldn’t elaborate on who, apart from federal leader Bill Shorten, would be at the Labor campaign launch in Ipswich today.
Ipswich is covered by four electorates – Ipswich, Ipswich West, Lockyer and Bundamba.
Three are held by LNP members, but a swing of more than 7.5 per cent would see two of them unseated.
When asked if former Labor premiers Peter Beattie or Anna Bligh would be at attending the launch, Ms Palaszczuk refused to say.
‘‘I haven’t spoken to them yet, but I know [federal Opposition Leader] Bill Shorten is going to be there,’’ she said.
‘‘I think Peter, at the moment, is a political commentator, you know we’ll wait and see if he turns up.’’
The Opposition Leader would also have no objection to Ms Bligh attending.
‘‘Everyone remembers what Anna did during the floods, you know, she was a very good Queensland premier, so if she can come, if she attends, I’d be more than happy to have her there.’’