Bligh predicts bleak future for Queensland
From Brisbane Times
Former Premier Anna Bligh has predicted a bleak future for Queensland as the state begins to feel the economic and human effects of widespread job-cuts introduced by her successor Campbell Newman.
In her first in-depth interview since her landslide defeat in March, Ms Bligh said cuts to the largest employer in the state were already taking a toll on people’s lives, with many of her friends personally affected.
But the economic impact of the widespread downsizing would soon become apparent as an already “sluggish” economy was hit by the “scourge” of unemployment, she said, before offering insight into the downfall of her own government.
Speaking with the ABC’s Sydney Sunday Profile program, Ms Bligh also added her voice to criticism of Peter Costello’s Commission of Audit report used to justify the downsizing, and defended her politically explosive decision to sell state assets.
She said privatising $15 billion worth of state assets was a last-resort her government adopted to avoid the kind of public service cost-cutting program embarked upon by the Newman Government.
“I know of people whose husbands are losing their jobs, people who had no idea that this would mean that their families are going to be torn apart and shattered by unemployment,” Ms Bligh said. (Full story)
A bleak future prediction was made while Anna was premier. It is Anna Bligh’s fault.Trouble is the evasion of any responsibility for what they do is a disgraceful characteristic within the ALP.
She admitted the Newman government had inherited an economy with “structural problems”, she put those problems in place.
If Mr Newman is really ‘cooking the books’ in an ALP like manner I would suggest he think twice. People have had more than enough of deceit in government and quite likely won’t stand for too much more.
But this looks more like a case of Anna trying to downplay the role of the reckless borrowing and spending of her government has had in Queensland’s economic misfortunes.
Anna mentions how people aren’t spending money. That’s thanks to the ALP pushing up the cost of living. Increasing utility bills, courtesy of the ALP, increasing cost of services, courtesy of the ALP and increasing costs of transport amongst other things and yes, courtesy of the ALP have caused a decrease in spending.
Many people can no longer afford to heat their homes, courtesy of the ALP.
Many people can’t afford to eat properly, courtesy of the ALP.
The bleak future Anna predicts is largely down to her. She grew Queensland’s debt to the largest state debt in record time, left Queensland economically vulnerable when natural disaster struck, handed the bill to the people of Queensland and ran away with a much undeserved lucrative lifetime pension and even asked for more money on her way out.
So basically, shut up Anna. This is largely down to you. I don’t fully agree with Mr Newman’s methods but you’ve left him in a difficult position with the economic damage you inflicted on Queensland.
