Premier Campbell Newman denies government is sacking frontline staff, despite loss of 45 nurses in Townsville

PREMIER Campbell Newman denies cutting frontline services despite 200 health jobs - including 45 nurses - being axed yesterday.

QUEENSLAND'S Premier has denied cutting frontline services a day after 200 health jobs were axed from Townsville Hospital and surrounding areas.

Forty-five nurses were among those facing the chop - or "realignment" - but Campbell Newman told ABC Radio this morning the affected people were not frontline workers.

"We promised not to cut frontline services, and we're not cutting frontline services," Mr Newman said.

"Bottom line is, if you ring the number because the house is on fire, the fire brigade will turn up. If you've got a problem and you need police, the police will turn up, if you go to a hospital there'll be nurses and doctors to look after you.

"That's what frontline services are about."

He offered public servants an assurance that all the uncertainty would be gone next week when the budget was delivered by Treasurer Tim Nicholls, but he refused to say exactly how many jobs would go.

"I said originally 20,000 - it's going to be less than 15,000 but you'll have to wait to the budget," Mr Newman said, with a laugh.

Asked about cuts to rural fire services, Mr Newman said volunteers were sick of "bureaucrats from Brisbane coming out to boss them around".

"(Deputy Premier) Jeff Seeney was reflecting at a meeting yesterday at a recent opening of a rural fire service shed, there were two people from out of town who rocked up in Landcruisers and the local volunteers were rumbling about how the funding for those two positions could have gone towards better firefighting for that local unit," he said.

"That's the message I got from talking to local firefighters."

And the Premier offered an assurance his government would be remembered for its social justice reforms.

"(Housing Minister) Dr Flegg is gearing up to build public housing in a way in which hasn't been seen in many years," he said.

"I look forward to demonstrating that this government will do a better job than the Labor Party of putting rooves over people's heads."