Qld Labor promises no asset leases

The Queensland opposition has promised not to lease public assets on long-term agreements as it prepares to release its own fiscal strategy.

The Queensland opposition says it won't sell or lease public assets, as the party prepares to release its economic strategy on Friday.

If the Liberal National Party (LNP) wins the state election it will lease two ports, water pipelines, two electricity generators and three power distribution firms on long-term agreements.

The plan is forecast to raise $37 billion, with $8.6 billion being promised by the LNP during its election campaign for infrastructure projects.

The Labor opposition will release its own fiscal strategy on Friday, but South Brisbane MP Jackie Trad says the fate of public assets will prove a major point difference.

"(Opposition leader Annastacia Palaszczuk) has given the commitment that Labor heard the message loud and clear in 2012, and we will not be selling assets," she told ABC radio on Thursday morning.

When pressed on whether the party would consider leasing assets on long-term agreements, she pledged the opposition would not lease assets either.

Ms Trad questioned whether the government would be able to raise $37 billion from the asset leasing regime after the government said it was confident of exceeding the figure.

"I think we can put it all to rest by the government releasing the scoping studies that Queensland taxpayers have paid for," she said.

"Put it all to rest and release all of the documents that detail exactly how the government thinks it can achieve $37 billion worth of proceeds from the sale of assets."

State Treasurer Tim Nicholls says estimates are based on the book values of the public businesses.

"Based on our best advice that we've received from our independent advisors and from treasury officers, I'm very confident we can achieve those values," he told the ABC.

"They are conservative values, and we may well be able to achieve more than that."


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Source: AAP


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