Qld govt realises job cuts are unpopular

26 Aug 2012, 2:30 pm   -   Source: AAP

A new poll shows the Queensland government's job slashing program is unpopular but Health Minister Lawrence Springborg says it is necessary.

Health Minister Lawrence Springborg says Queenslanders may not like the public servant job cuts but they are necessary.

A Galaxy Poll of 800 people for The Sunday Mail shows two out of three people believe the government is going too far with the axings.

It also found that the new government's strategy has startled even its own supporters, with 45 per cent of LNP voters saying there are too many redundancies.

More than half of all government employees, about 52 per cent, fear they may be the ones facing the axe.

A least 4500 jobs have been axed since the Liberal National Party won power in March and a further 15,500 job losses are expected to be detailed in the September budget.

It is part of a cost-cutting drive to save $4 billion over three years.

Mr Springborg says there was no magic pudding to turn around the finances and tough decisions are needed.

"Are the majority of Queenslanders happy that we've got to take this action? No - but neither is the government," he told reporters in Brisbane.

"The simple reality is, is that we can't not take action because our state's economy is in a diabolical situation."

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