Queensland state Budget 2019: Opposition leader Deb Frecklington delivers her reply

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington has pledged her support for a genuine effort to host the 2032 Olympics as a way do deliver much-needed new infrastructure, but she has hit out at the Labor Government’s “she’ll be right” approach to growing state debt.

QUEENSLAND should fight hard to host the Olympic Games as a way to deliver much-needed new infrastructure.

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington pledged her support for the event in her Budget reply speech in which she pledged no new taxes and vowed to chip away at the state’s soaring debt if she wins office.

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Ms Frecklington’s Budget reply speech, which lasted 50 minutes, took aim at Labor’s “she’ll-be-right” response to debt, on course to break the $90 billion barrier.

She announced the LNP would maintain a fiscal principle never to spend more than it receives.

Queensland Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington has delivered her Queensland Budget response. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

“It will take time but there is clearly scope for saving when you consider Labor’s wasteful record,” she said.

“We will achieve this without asset sales and without forced redundancies in the public service.”

And she promised “there will not be a single new tax under the LNP”.

Ms Frecklington rubbished Labor’s infrastructure plans, arguing the $49.5 billion pledged by Labor on Tuesday is less than the LNP Government was spending five years ago.

The LNP Leader said the Olympics bid was a golden opportunity to deliver new projects.

“The Games would supercharge our tourism industry, showcasing Queensland to the World,” she said.

“It would ensure that future-proofing infrastructure is delivered.

“Queensland will need this infrastructure with or without an Olympic Games but a Games bid will ensure it is delivered.”

She also promised an LNP Government would:

- Build the Brisbane Metro and duplicate the Sunshine Coast rail line;

- Duplicate the Pacific Motorway on the Gold Coast;

- Build new dams in the north;

- Introduce retail price competition in the regional electricity market;

- Air condition every state school;

- Build four ice rehabilitation centres;

- Freeze royalty rates for 10 years and direct royalties into a Queensland Infrastructure Fund;

- Commit $8 million to minerals exploration in the north-west;

- Create a $20 million fund to back heavy engineering and manufacturing; and

- Create a Queensland Industry Skills Council.

Ms Frecklington said she had listened to Queenslanders across this state in building her plan.

“They know that this Government is going nowhere and it is taking them with it,” she said.

State Development Minister Cameron Dick labelled the plan “Deb-onomics” and “a recipe for a magic pudding”.

“It was not a plan,” he said.

“It was a wish list to Santa.”