What you said about Labor’s $9bn budget blowout under Cameron Dick

Labor’s hopes of winning the state election have taken another hit and many are already showing their disgust. HAVE YOUR SAY

Treasurer Cameron Dick on Monday. Picture: Steve Pohlner

The state government has blown its budget – and now Queenslanders are blowing up.

It was revealed that Labor was $9bn over budget in the last financial year, in the largest unexpected annual overspend since Anna Bligh was premier.

The $9.07bn could ensure every part of the Bruce Highway meets the basic three-star safety standard and is $2bn more than the venues budget of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

It was later revealed energy rebates, hiring more public servants and paying for more infrastructure projects were the main factors behind the budget blowing out.

It is the first time since 2010-11 unforeseen expenditure has been this high, with the figure previously averaging $1.4bn a year since Labor came back into power in 2015-16.

Documents from the Bligh era revealed the bulk of its $9.3bn unforeseen spend in the 2010-11 year came from the government paying back loans tied to the sale of QR National – the former publicly owned rail operator now known as Aurizon – and the Port of Brisbane.

Shadow treasurer David Janetzki seized on the eye-watering sum to accuse the state government of being irresponsible economic managers.

Former premier Anna Bligh

In response, Treasurer Cameron Dick noted the Opposition had voted to support the majority of the unforeseen expenditure as part of the usual budget appropriation bills.

One of Opposition Leader David Crisafulli’s key commitments has been to “restore respect” for taxpayer cash, with a promise to deliver projects on time and on budget.

News of the budget blowout sparked anger among readers, many claiming it is simply the final straw for Labor ahead of October’s state election.

Others, though, insisted there are wider issues that need to be addressed.

See what you had to say below and join the conversation >>>

WHAT YOU SAID

Typical Labor

Kerri

spending like a drunken sailors before they get shipwrecked

Linda

All that and squandering their pilfered massively increased mining tax that’s about to destroy Queenslands mining future. All in the name of buying votes. Can’t wait to vote them out.

Only What’s Allowed

And all this while reaping tens of billions of extra mining royalties, plus Zero to show for it! What a rabble!!

Fred

I said that this mob will spend everything and leave the LNP with the debt. Miles and Dick are running the wrecking ball through treasury.

Gary K

Unexpected! They’ve been spending money, our money, like the proverbial drunken sailors. In my almost 60 years, I’ve never seen a Labor government that was responsible with our money.

We’re all in trouble

The Better Half

It will be the same scenario as after Bligh if the LNP win the election, they will see the true state of the economy. They will have to sort out the mess. Let’s hope QLDers don’t buckle under an ALP scare campaign like they did before. It will take more than on term to sort it out.

Ted

Wasting ALL our $$ on their relentless useless green energy! These ministers should be made accountable !! A private business would never be run like this!!

Mort

When you have people in power ‘running’ your state with University Politics as their ‘profession’ then this is what you get. Cannot handle Money. Astronomical waste of our Money trying to buy an Election.

John

There are two departments in Queensland that need serious structural reform; Queensland Health and TMR. Both swallow money like it grows on trees but don’t deliver on anything. They are bureaucracy on steroids.

Mark

And as the LNP announce a policy, Labor asks where is the money coming from?

Shadow treasurer David Janetzki

Wider issues

Every day my confusion grows!

Yeah but 10% of us can catch a train for 50c. Cool!

Simon

Does anyone need anymore evidence that a change is required in QLD politics? There needs to be some solid business experience before any politician is elected.

paul

I feel that is simply the CFMEU tax. 30% on all govt projects. Take a closer look at the rail tunnels, bridges, public works and there is a CFMEU blow out. Unions are destroying Qld through the greed.

Kevin

At some stage the debt will become unmanageable then the state will be bankrupt. It will be Greece again.

Originally published as What you said about Labor’s $9bn budget blowout under Cameron Dick