Today’s labour force figures underline the importance of the Palaszczuk Government’s focus on job creation in challenging economic times.
Last month’s Budget detailed a comprehensive plan to drive jobs throughout Queensland.
We have been very clear about the fact that there are challenging national economic conditions at play with the softening of GDP growth to its lowest rate since the global financial crisis, low wages growth and interest rates at record lows.
Today’s data shows that employment trends are a national challenge. All but one state recorded falls in employment with the largest fall occurring in NSW.
This requires Governments to invest in job creation and economic stimulus and that’s exactly what the Palaszczuk Government is doing. As I said on Budget day, this means we need to stay the course. We must continue with our job generating $49.5 billion building program and record investment in frontline services like health, education and transport.
Now is not the time to step away and we are sticking by Queensland communities.
So far the LNP has failed to outline an alternative plan for job creation other than $7 billion in uncosted promises.
Their record includes sacking 14,000 Queenslanders and the only way they can pay for their uncosted promises is to cut services, sack people or sell State assets.
Under their watch unemployment went from 5.5 per cent to 6.7 per cent in trend terms and peaked at 7.2 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms.
Overall the Palaszczuk Government has added seven times as many jobs as the LNP.
It would have taken them more than two decades to create as many jobs as we have in five years.
Contact
