Was Campbell Newman right to dump 14,000 workers?

ONE of former Premier Campbell Newman's most maligned decisions -- to sack 14,000 workers -- may have protected the state's credit rating.

Former Premier Campbell Newman. Picture: Contributed

ONE of former Premier Campbell Newman's most maligned decisions -- to sack 14,000 workers -- may have protected the state's credit rating.

Ratings agency Standard & Poor's pointed to Queensland's cutting of expenses and reduction of infrastructure spending when considering the state's improved financial position.

The group noted the current Labor Government's "Debt Action Plan" but gave far more credit to the former Newman Government's massive job cuts.

It found the state budget was doing better, and that "reflects the reduction of 14,000 full-time equivalent positions in fiscal 2013, reducing employee expenses by 5% in 2014, and conveyance duties and GST receipts rising substantially".

Mr Newman told News Corp that many public servants thank him for pushing them out of their jobs.

"What is often missed is that people were given generous severance packages and many people often thank me for giving them an opportunity to start a new business or new career," he said.

The push to cut so many workers was seized on by Queensland unions, which ran long-running campaigns against the plans and the premier.