Restoring Queensland’s credit rating and easing burden

Restoring Queensland’s AAA credit rating and easing the burden for business will create jobs and ensure taxpayers’ money is spent delivering services not paying off hefty interest bills, LNP Leader John-Paul Langbroek said today.

Speaking to the Queensland Media Club in Brisbane today, Mr Langbroek outlined the four principles that would underpin his approach to governing and restoring confidence in Queensland.

Mr Langbroek said the four principles included:

Improving the quality of life of all Queenslanders by improving the delivery of Government services;

Planning properly for the future and making decisions for the long term;

Responsible economic management and controlling Government expenditure;

Being upfront with Queenslanders and giving them a voice.

Mr Langbroek said the first economic priority of a Langbroek Liberal National Party Government would be restoring Queensland’s AAA credit rating and returning the state’s balance sheet to a sound position.

“Currently, Queenslanders are being made to pay $14 million a day in interest to pay for the lead weight of Labor’s $85 billion debt,” he said.

“On top of that, we are now being forced to pay an additional $1.2 billion a year in extra interest payments because Anna Bligh lost the AAA credit rating.

“If we stopped the $14 million in interest payments for a day, we could afford to fund 175 new teachers, nurses or police for a year.

“While Premier Anna Bligh and Treasurer Andrew Fraser say restoring the AAA credit rating is not even on their radar, we believe restoring this rating is crucial to restoring economic confidence in Queensland.

“By restoring the AAA credit rating, that’s an extra $1.2 billion we can put into job creation, infrastructure and front line services.”

Mr Langbroek said the LNP would manage the State Budget based on the same rules and basic disciplines Queenslanders have to apply to their own household budgets.

“We will control expenditure so that we spend less than we earn,” he said.

“We will invest in building Queensland’s productive capacity and in good times put money aside for a rainy day.”

Mr Langbroek said easing the burden on businesses by cutting red tape, streamlining processes and providing a stable operating environment was another key priority for the LNP.

“By helping business get ahead, we will help individuals prosper. Because as the party of free enterprise, the Liberal National Party knows it is business that creates jobs, not Anna Bligh.”

Mr Langbroek said a Government he led would build projects on time and on budget and would not waste taxpayers’ money by making unplanned, un-costed announcements just to put out political spot fires.

“Every project will be based on a sound business plan and built to suit the needs of the community in the long term,” he said.

Mr Langbroek also vowed to be upfront with the people of Queensland, to listen and be a government for all Queensland.

“We will listen to people from Mudgeeraba to Mt Isa and ask them about what they want from their government – because we know that government doesn’t have all the solutions and ideas,” he said.

“We will genuinely consult with stakeholders so that together we can find positive solutions to the problems Queenslanders are facing and secure the future.

“I want to be Premier to restore confidence in Queensland, to reduce the pressures on everyday living costs, to deliver the services Queenslanders deserve – and to ensure it is the best, most prosperous place in Australia to live.”