Qld election 2024: Alternative treasurer David Janetzki yet to appear in campaign

He will likely be in control of Queensland’s Treasury benches in two weeks, but he hasn’t yet been sighted in the election campaign.

Shadow treasurer David Janetzki with fellow LNP candidates

He is on track to take control of Queensland’s $98bn budget in two weeks, but shadow treasurer David Janetzki has been accused of hiding while the LNP struggles to explain its economic plan.

Mr Janetzki has not appeared alongside Opposition Leader David Crisafulli during the campaign, and his absence has fuelled Labor’s attacks about how the LNP’s economic policies would be funded.

Incumbent Labor Treasurer Cameron Dick called on his LNP counterpart to release an economic plan and spark public debate.

“Politics is a contest of ideas and the state’s economy is the most important part of that,” he said.

“I’m ready for the contest but has anyone seen David Janetzki, let alone heard of any of his ideas?

“David Janetzki has had four years to come up with the LNP’s plan for the economy, so I’m not sure why he isn’t excited to share it.”

Mr Janetzki denied he was missing from the campaign and took aim at Mr Dick.

“If Cameron Dick was more focused on respecting Queenslanders’ money and less on auditioning for the top job, Queensland wouldn’t have a $9bn budget blowout last year,” he said.

“These comments are further evidence of why Queensland needs a fresh start with the right plan for Queensland’s future”.

The LNP has pledged to release its costings and economic policy before the election.

Mr Crisafulli is yet to detail how his promises would be paid for.

He has declared taxes and debt would be lower under the LNP, but has repeatedly declined to say whether spending would be lower under his government or if he would work to pay down debt.

“If you continue to grow an economy and you don’t blow projects out and you don’t continue to grow debt, well then debt becomes less of a burden,” he said.

Mr Janetzki has not appeared alongside Mr Crisafulli since September 29, but has held several individual press conferences.

Mr Crisafulli dismissed claims Mr Janetzki had been hiding, saying he would play a bigger role in the last two weeks of the campaign.

“I would suggest to you, he’s done more media conferences than the vast majority of Labor frontbenchers and I look forward to him joining the campaign more into the future,” he said.

“If government changes, you’ll have, in my mind, the most qualified person to be treasurer in a generation. I think he’s outstanding.”

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli (right) with local candidate Marty Hunt on the Sunshine Coast on Monday. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Mr Crisafulli said the LNP would save money by ensuring the days of “drunken spending” on consultants ended.

Queensland’s total debt is forecast to reach $172bn by 2027-28.

Mr Dick said on Monday that without borrowings, Mr Crisafulli’s only option to pay for operating expenses and Queensland’s hefty infrastructure program was through increased revenue.

“He specifically said he would not borrow for operational costs,” Mr Dick said.

“The budget is in an operating deficit this year, $2.6bn this year, and $515m the next financial year.

“If David Crisafulli does not want to borrow for operational costs, then he must immediately cut $3bn from the Queensland budget.”

Mr Dick dismissed claims Labor’s $8.9bn election expenditure, to be paid for by borrowings, would affect the state’s AA credit rating after warnings from S&P Global.

He said debt “may very well” increase due to the party’s cost-of-living cash splash, but remained adamant the borrowings, including the latest $1.4bn free lunches program, would not affect the forecast budget surplus in 2026-27.

Economist Marcus Smith said Labor’s high-spending campaign would hurt the LNP if it was elected.

“All the recent spending announcements not only speaks of desperation for a government in trouble, but it is also is sabotaging the state finances to wedge the next government that has to come in and obviously review and likely make reductions to the spending programs to reduce the growing debt burden,” he said.

Originally published as Qld election 2024: Alternative treasurer David Janetzki yet to appear in campaign