Federal Labor shares Commonwealth Games glory but shuts purse

Empty words – that is all the Federal Labor government has given the Gold Coast’s 2018 Commonwealth Games, the State Opposition said today.

Shadow Minister for the Commonwealth Games John-Paul Langbroek said just as Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Treasurer Wayne Swan were quick to bask in Games glory, they had just as soon firmly zipped the federal purse shut.

“Labor is swift to slug Queenslanders with taxes with the mining tax passed overnight as well as the anti-Queensland carbon tax, yet they’re even faster to deny funding support for one of our country’s biggest tourism events set to boost the nation’s economy,” said Mr Langbroek.

“Despite all their taxes hurting Queensland households, Labor is not prepared to celebrate and support the Commonwealth Games.

‘It’s going to bring jobs, it’s going to bring investment’, said Mr Swan, but he won’t ‘bring’ any funds.

“Prime Minister Howard knew the enormous benefits the international sporting event would bring to Australia - he contributed $100 million towards the costs of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

“Labor’s priorities are out of whack.

“The Gillard and Bligh Labor governments simply take more but give less.

“What’s worse, local Labor MPs Peter Lawlor, Christine Smith and Peta Kaye-Croft have all cheered on these taxes hurting Queenslanders already struggling with cost of living increases.

“The LNP believes the 2018 Commonwealth Games will benefit not just the Gold Coast, but also Queensland and all of Australia.

“Our Games will put a real spring back into our economy and as well as our tourism industry which has suffered under Labor.

“The CanDo team will fight for our tourism industry and we’ll fight for Commonwealth Games funding,” said Mr Langbroek.