Beattie blames Bligh in yet another backflip

Former Premier Peter Beattie has produced another one of his famous back-flips today, blaming the financial woes of Queensland on his hand-picked successor Anna Bligh.

Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls said the former Labor Premier was trying to re-write history and would say anything if it helped him in his tilt for federal office.

“Mr Beattie’s claims that when he left office the books were in the black are just plain wrong,” Mr Nicholls said.

“Peter Beattie’s last budget as Premier for 2007-08 projected an average annual increase in General Government sector debt of 55% per annum and cumulative fiscal deficits of $12.2 billion in the budget year and over the forward estimates.”

“The actual fiscal deficit delivered in 2007-08 blew out from the forecast $2.8 billion to $5.2 billion.

“The financial rot started under Peter Beattie, he just got out before the decay really set in.”

Mr Nicholls said Peter Beattie couldn’t avoid his share of the blame for the failings of the former Labor Government and the financial mess the Newman Government inherited.

“Peter Beattie previously said that he nurtured and encouraged Anna Bligh through the system,” he said.

“She was his hand-picked successor.

“Earlier this year he took the blame for the failings of the previous Government, now he’s pointing the finger at the Ministers he personally picked for high office.

“This is just another one of Peter Beattie’s famous backflips.

“It’s obvious he will do or say anything to get elected in Forde, a seat he has no history in, even if means throwing his Labor mates under the bus.”

[ENDS] 15 August 2013

Media Contact: Treasurer’s Office 07 3224 6900

Peter Beattie quotes on the previous Labor Government and his record:

• “I'm confident under Premier Anna Bligh the state will be in good hands." – September 10, 2007

• "I felt there needed to be a transition, I thought Queenslanders were getting tired of me and they wanted a change, someone fresh, and I had spent time nurturing and encouraging Anna through the system.” – Courier Mail, March 8, 2013

• "But the bottom line with all that was that I made all those decisions." - Courier Mail, March 8, 2013

• "The key players of that government, obviously I supported and put in those positions, so the buck stops with me.” - Courier Mail, March 8, 2013