ID :
48215
Sat, 02/28/2009 - 18:52
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/48215
The shortlink copeid
Job cuts haunt Bligh's election campaign
Jobless rates have again come to haunt Premier Anna Bligh's election campaign as new figures showed Queensland was leading a spike in unemployment nationwide.
A day after two major companies announced job cuts in the state, data showed
unemployment in Queensland had jumped 18.7 per cent in just four weeks, compared
with the national figure of 13.5 per cent.
Opposition leader Lawrence Springborg immediately pounced, using the figures to
lampoon Ms Bligh and her promise to secure jobs.
"Virtually each day since this election campaign has been called, Queensland has
actually lost jobs," he told reporters on Brisbane's bayside.
Mr Springborg cited job losses at Pacific Brands and Magnesia company QMAG, which on
Friday blamed high government coal royalties for the move.
He said Labor had not been prepared for the downturn.
"Queensland went into this global financial situation without any money in the bank,
having wasted 11 long boom years, with a $74 billion debt," he said.
But Ms Bligh told reporters on the Gold Coast the global financial crisis had hit
all countries faster than anyone expected.
Ms Bligh said the global downturn was the real source of trouble for QMAG
(Queensland Magnesia), and other resources companies.
"The minerals in the ground of Queensland belong to Queenslanders and that's why
here and in other parts of the world we have a royalty regime, so that those
companies that are benefiting and profiting from our mineral resources give
something back to Queenslanders," she said.
Despite its strong reliance on the mining sector, Western Australia is faring better
than Queensland through the downturn.
But Ms Bligh said the crisis would eventually touch all states.
"Right around the country, as we see these effects wash through the budgets of state
governments and federal government we will see revenue stripped out of those
budgets," she said.
The Premier said she was "steely" in her resolve to get through it.
Meanwhile, Treasurer Andrew Fraser accused Mr Springborg of plotting to cut 12,000
jobs from the public sector to help fund his $2.5 billion election promises.
Mr Springborg said he would look at the necessity of public servant positions as
they were vacated, but no one would be sacked.
Campaigning on the Gold Coast, Ms Bligh promised to donate a surplus emergency
services helicopter to Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ).
And on Brisbane's bayside, Mr Springborg announced 40 new boat ramps and an
environmental study for Moreton Bay to look into Labor's unpopular environmental
zones.
The two leaders will cross paths on Sunday with both hitting the hustings in the
north Queensland seat of Whitsundays - Labor's most marginal.
A day after two major companies announced job cuts in the state, data showed
unemployment in Queensland had jumped 18.7 per cent in just four weeks, compared
with the national figure of 13.5 per cent.
Opposition leader Lawrence Springborg immediately pounced, using the figures to
lampoon Ms Bligh and her promise to secure jobs.
"Virtually each day since this election campaign has been called, Queensland has
actually lost jobs," he told reporters on Brisbane's bayside.
Mr Springborg cited job losses at Pacific Brands and Magnesia company QMAG, which on
Friday blamed high government coal royalties for the move.
He said Labor had not been prepared for the downturn.
"Queensland went into this global financial situation without any money in the bank,
having wasted 11 long boom years, with a $74 billion debt," he said.
But Ms Bligh told reporters on the Gold Coast the global financial crisis had hit
all countries faster than anyone expected.
Ms Bligh said the global downturn was the real source of trouble for QMAG
(Queensland Magnesia), and other resources companies.
"The minerals in the ground of Queensland belong to Queenslanders and that's why
here and in other parts of the world we have a royalty regime, so that those
companies that are benefiting and profiting from our mineral resources give
something back to Queenslanders," she said.
Despite its strong reliance on the mining sector, Western Australia is faring better
than Queensland through the downturn.
But Ms Bligh said the crisis would eventually touch all states.
"Right around the country, as we see these effects wash through the budgets of state
governments and federal government we will see revenue stripped out of those
budgets," she said.
The Premier said she was "steely" in her resolve to get through it.
Meanwhile, Treasurer Andrew Fraser accused Mr Springborg of plotting to cut 12,000
jobs from the public sector to help fund his $2.5 billion election promises.
Mr Springborg said he would look at the necessity of public servant positions as
they were vacated, but no one would be sacked.
Campaigning on the Gold Coast, Ms Bligh promised to donate a surplus emergency
services helicopter to Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ).
And on Brisbane's bayside, Mr Springborg announced 40 new boat ramps and an
environmental study for Moreton Bay to look into Labor's unpopular environmental
zones.
The two leaders will cross paths on Sunday with both hitting the hustings in the
north Queensland seat of Whitsundays - Labor's most marginal.
