Opinion: Labor can win again by prioritising service delivery and jobs

Every single member of Labor’s 52-strong caucus can be re-elected because we have a record we can be proud of, writes Cameron Dick.

Winning elections is hard. Queenslanders rightly expect a lot from their governments, and the expectations of voters are even higher when Labor governs at both federal and state levels.

I fully accept that, in a little over a year, our government will face its toughest electoral test yet. But I do not believe the situation is as dire as some make out.

There are 52 members of our Labor Caucus. I believe that every single one can be re-elected.

Even more importantly, I believe that every single one must be re-elected, because all Queensland’s regions deserve to have a voice in our Labor government.

Speculation around the future of our government is unhelpful as we address the issues that matter most to Queenslanders.

Having a job and a safe place to live, knowing your children will receive a good education and your parents can have access to world-class medical care – these are the issues that every Labor MP, from the Premier down, works hard to address every day.

There is another reason I believe every member of our Labor Caucus must be re-elected.

That is the damage that would be wrought on the economic prosperity and social cohesion of Queensland should Opposition Leader David Crisafulli be allowed to take power with an LNP government.

Our government has made it a priority to bring manufacturing back to Queensland, and with it, a pipeline of skilled, secure jobs.

We have delivered fair wages for public sector workers, the vast majority of whom work in our hospitals and schools.

Thanks to our Premier’s strong leadership through the pandemic, we have achieved the lowest unemployment rate in Queensland’s history.

We have a nation-leading energy and jobs plan that will guarantee public ownership of an electricity grid powered by renewables.

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick

Our progressive coal royalties have delivered the biggest state budget surplus in Australia’s history, as well as the most generous electricity rebates in the nation, along with free kindy.

And all of this has been done while reducing state debt.

All these achievements would be in dire peril should David Crisafulli win next year’s election.

Mr Crisafulli is a master of avoiding scrutiny and refusing to outline any policy detail on what he would do if he led Queensland.

He has refused every opportunity to back progressive coal royalties.

He has openly promised cuts to infrastructure, under the euphemism of “savings”.

He has never explained, apologised, or expressed any regret about his record in the Newman government.

And he has never apologised for how the Newman government sacked thousands of workers and stopped building any of the infrastructure our state needs.

Mr Crisafulli favours empty slogans instead of clear policies.

The LNP has not promised any energy transition from coal to renewables.

The LNP has not guaranteed public ownership of our energy system.

And, the LNP has not committed to keeping our public service strong, with fair wages and no cuts.

In the coming months, the task of our government is clear.

We must continue to implement our vision of a stronger, fairer Queensland.

That means an intense focus on service delivery.

That means moving with agility to propel the public service to deliver even more for Queenslanders.

It means working with stakeholders to strengthen our economy.

And it means having the courage to take on powerful interests when they do not serve the interests of Queenslanders. It also means we need to explain the risks of a Crisafulli government delivering another Newman government.

Cameron Dick is Queensland Treasurer