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Qld budget no 'steaming pile', says Pitt

Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt says the opposition has "no ammunition to throw" after its latest criticism of the budget.

Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt says the Liberal National Party opposition has "sunk to a new low" with its latest criticism of the budget.

Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson tinkered with a common idiom when referring to Labor MPs trying to sell last weeks' budget to Queenslanders.

"Everyone knows you can't polish a steaming pile of Pitt, and that's what these MPs are going to be doing," Mr Emerson told reporters on Monday.

"This budget gives no hope for the unemployed, slashes infrastructure spending, and only increases the cost of living for Queenslanders."

Mr Pitt dismissed the colourful turn of phrase while also defending claims of porkbarrelling in the budget.

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"I think this is a new low even for the LNP," he said.

"It just goes to show the budget has answered many of the critics, the biggest seemingly being Scott Emerson and the LNP. They have no ammunition to throw at this budget because it is one about jobs for Queensland."

Mr Pitt faced a series of questions about the budget at a business lunch in Brisbane, particularly about claims it was designed to win support in Labor seats ahead of the upcoming state election.

The treasurer said the budget was written in the best interests of Queenslanders, not to shore up Labor against One Nation in regional Queensland and the Greens in inner Brisbane seats.

"Those sort of accusations are sort of like saying you should go out of your way not to fund things that are in state government held seats," Mr Pitt said.

"We've got government members in Cairns, Mackay, Townsville, Rockhampton, Gladstone. It would mean me as treasurer not agreeing to fund major projects in those centres because it may seem to be supporting government measures."

Both Labor and the Liberal National Party opposition are facing some pressure from One Nation in regional parts of the state, while Labor is under fire from Greens votes in southeast Queensland.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad faces a Green backlash in Brisbane South, while Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace's seat of McConnel is also vulnerable.

Both electorates received new schools projects in the budget.

The election is due by May next year at the latest, but is tipped to be held around November this year.


3 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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