The Queensland budget is a politically shameless and fiscally irresponsible attempt by a Labor government staring at seemingly certain defeat at the October state election to spend its way back into power.

The $11.2 billion cash splash on cost-of-living handouts will turn this year’s small $564 million surplus into a $2.6 billion deficit in 2024-25. Treasurer Cameron Dick says it’s a “deliberate choice” to put the budget into deficit to help Queenslanders “keep their budgets in balance”.