Where is the money coming from?

Even delivering his promised cut of 12,000 jobs from public services, raising taxes and cutting building projects would not fund Lawrence Springborg’s first campaign week splurge of $2.5 billion in unfunded election promises, Treasurer Andrew Fraser said today.

“Mr Springborg denies there is a global financial crisis: he’s denying reality and denying that he has to tell the people of Queensland where the money is coming from.

“The unfunded promises started on the first full day of the campaign with a $1.73 billion pledge, he added $316 million on day 2, added another couple of promises worth $26 million and rounded off the week with another $500m yesterday from Fiona Simpson.

Mr Fraser said Miss Simpson had revealed the Opposition’s real economic strategy

“Yesterday Fiona Simpson put an ** next to her commitment for $500 million saying it was all subject to the global financial crisis.”

“Even Fiona has cottoned on to the global financial crisis!”

“Maybe she can tell Lawrence Springborg about the facts of life in a global financial crisis.”

“The question is – are all his promises being given with an ** that means ‘non-core’?”

“Can Queenslanders believe one word of this wild unfunded spending spree?”

Mr Fraser said Mr Springborg committed yesterday on radio to following through on his pledge to cuts jobs from the public sector.

“Mr Springborg has to answer where the money is coming from.

“He said during the week that all will be revealed on Tuesday in Brisbane so Mr Springborg better get cracking on where $2.5 billion is coming from?

“Will he cut more than 12 000 jobs?

“Or cut jobs-generating projects like his Shadow Treasurer pledged?

“Or will he just ramp up the tax-take to pay for his wild promises?

Last night Shadow Treasurer Tim Nicholls said on television that the global financial crisis is having an impact “and it would be foolish to deny that”.

“While the Shadow Treasurer points out that Lawrence Springborg is a fool, the people of Queensland won’t be fooled by his unfunded wild election spending spree.”

Mr Fraser said in contrast Labor’s commitments stood at $8.4 million.

Contact (Treasurer’s office): 0437 837 976