Queenslanders will not see a report into the cost of the public service until after the November 25 state election
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has confirmed the KPMG report would have to be considered by cabinet before it was released publicly, meaning it wouldn't be released until after the election.
That's despite the minority Labor government having the final version of the $165,000 report for months.
Ms Palaszczuk defended not releasing the report sooner, saying it had to go through a standard process.
"These are cabinet processes which everybody knows exist in Queensland and, as I've said very clearly, once it goes to cabinet it will be publicly released," she told reporters in Townsville.
However Liberal National Party Leader Tim Nicholls said it was "totally unfair" Queenslanders had paid for the report but couldn't see it, raising suspicions about its findings and recommendations.
"What is it telling us or what should it be telling us about what has happened in the last two and a half years while Annastacia Palaszczuk and Labor have been in charge?" Mr Nicholls said
"If we're elected we will release it straight away."
Ms Palaszczuk has proudly stated her government hired more than 16,000 public servants during its term - compared to the 14,000 axed by the Newman government.
But concerns have been raised the wages bill for the public service is set to balloon out of control, with pay rises locked in for a number of years and the public service overall growing beyond the rate of population growth.
The premier was in Townsville on Tuesday visiting a TAFE to announce an extra $155 million to extend the government's back to work program.
The unemployment rate in the region is 10 per cent, and Labor is keen to shore up the three marginal Labor seats in the area - Townsville, Mundingburra and Thuringowa.
The event was free of any anti-Adani coal mine protesters, after they shadowed Ms Palaszczuk's every move for the first two days of the campaign.
However, she said she wasn't avoiding the public, after going for a walk in Townsville on Monday afternoon, and then again on Tuesday morning.
Indian mining giant Adani has its Australian headquarters in Townsville, however Ms Palaszczuk did not do any media events with them while she was in town.
The premier will continue her week-long blitz of regional Queensland in Cairns.
Share
