Jobless figures good news for Queensland

Treasurer Curtis Pitt says the latest jobless figures are good news for Queensland and show the Palaszczuk Government’s Economic Plan is working to generate jobs.

 Mr Pitt said ABS figures for February showed a 5.9 per cent trend unemployment rate compared with 6.1 per cent reported the previous month.

 “The latest figures show 70,100 jobs have been created since the change of government in our state,” he said.

 “There has been an extra 4,100 full-time jobs created in the last month alone.

 “That compares with an average of 330 full-time jobs lost each month under the LNP.

 “Over the past four years we've seen the former Treasurer and the now Deputy Opposition Leader flip-flop between seasonally adjusted or trend figures — depending on what suited their political purposes.

 "It's not likely we'll see the Opposition crowing about the fact their preferred (seasonally adjusted) measure has plummeted from 6.4% last month to 5.6%. 

 "This brings the seasonally adjusted rate down to just 0.1% higher than it was before the destructive cuts by Campbell Newman and the LNP."

 Mr Pitt said job creation remained the Palaszczuk Government’s number-one priority.

“The contrast was stark in State Parliament this week and was there for everyone to see,” he said.

“While the government is working hard to deliver infrastructure and work with the private sector to get major projects off the ground, the LNP has been more interested in rats and mice issues and personal attacks than the big issues.

 “We have three job-creating Market-Led Proposals now moved from initial assessment to the detailed assessment stage — the Logan Motorway Enhancement project, the Brisbane International Cruise Ship Terminal; and the Queensland Aquarium and Maritime Museum project proposed for South Bank.

 “These three MLPs together represent $650 million in private sector investment plans and will generate an estimated 1,600 jobs.

 “In addition we have launched a four-year State Infrastructure Plan — something the LNP never did — to give business the ability to plan for their possible involvement in government projects.

 “The $35 billion in infrastructure spending over four years outlined in the 2015 State Budget has been boosted by a $500 million to enable key projects to get going.

 “The $10.1 billion in infrastructure spending this year alone will support 27,000 jobs.

 “Our Accelerated Works Program worth more than $440 million will support more than 950 jobs across the state.

 “We are working hard to create jobs while the LNP is intent on talk down our state to damage business confidence just so it can implement its one-point plan for asset sales,” Mr Pitt said.