Media release
Palmer United Party Queensland leader and candidate for Callide, John Bjelke-Petersen, said Campbell Newman and his government are to blame for setting Queensland’s highest unemployment rate in more than a decade.
Mr Bjelke-Petersen said Queensland’s unemployment rate of 6.9 per cent is the highest in 11 years.
“This government should be ashamed of its jobs record and its inability to improve the rising unemployment rate, especially considering the government set its original unemployment target at four per cent,” Mr Bjelke-Petersen said.
“The fact is the Premier of Queensland and his government contributed immensely to this rate when they sacked 14,000 public servants.
“Queensland sits as the second highest state on the national unemployment scale, just behind Tasmania’s rate of seven per cent.”
Mr Bjelke-Petersen said Queensland’s unemployment rate had increased by more than one per cent in 2014.
“This increase has been caused by the Newman government failing to allow Queenslanders and Queensland companies the opportunity to participate in the economy to drive growth and create jobs,” Mr Bjelke-Petersen said.
“Premier Newman has destroyed domestic demand, resulting in businesses downsizing and shutting their doors and creating a lack of economic activity within the state.
“Premier Newman and his government have failed Queensland by failing to decrease unemployment and rather than decrease it to four per cent that have almost doubled their target.”
Mr Bjelke-Petersen said the Palmer United Party will drive domestic demand, boost Queensland’s economic activity and create employment opportunities right across the state.
ENDS