Federal Budget 2019: Qld LNP calls out state Labor over funding

The State Opposition has slammed the Government for its criticism of the Federal Budget, calling it out for previously turning away national funding.

THE State Opposition has slammed the Government for its criticism of the Federal Budget, with several members calling out Labor for previously turning away national funding when the state needed it.

Passing a motion today in State Parliament condemning the Budget, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk again criticised its lack of climate change policy and reallocation of NDIS funding, and saying Queenslanders deserved more.

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State Treasurer Jackie Trad said the Budget was “unfair, unfair, unfair” and targeted the nation’s most vulnerable, including rural areas.

But state Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington hit back, saying Ms Trad had tried to sneak through, under the cloak of the Budget, the fact the State Government was $1 billion out in its prediction four months ago.

“This Treasurer advises Queenslanders ‘I was a little out’ — $1 billion out — the Premier gave no guarantee they would not increase taxes to pay for that black hole,” she said.

“I fear for Queenslanders in the next (State) Budget because they will have to fill that black hole somehow.

“This Government has no right to lecture anybody on economic management.”

Andrew Powell

Jackie Trad (front) with Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: Darren England/AAP

Opposition state development spokesman Andrew Powell said the Federal Government would not give Queensland any funding because Ms Trad had said in July 2017 that “they will go it alone”.

“Why do you think the Federal Government hasn’t given them the funding?” Mr Powell said.

“Because they said they’d fund it themselves – they said they didn’t want it.”

However State Development Minister Cameron Dick said Labor was entitled to lecture the LNP because it had achieved four Budget surpluses.

“The LNP could not deliver one surplus in three years – this isn’t the Budget that brings home the bacon, it’s a Budget that saves the bacon of the LNP,” he said.

“This is a budget for the LNP, and it’s against Queensland and rural Queensland.”

Health Minister Steven Miles said the Budget had failed on health and hospitals, dental care and those with disabilities, and failed to look after older Australians in need of residential aged care.

State Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington in Question Time this week. Picture: Glenn Hunt/AAP