QLD: Treasurer defends $1M statewide tour

AAP General News (Australia)
08-26-2009
QLD: Treasurer defends $1M statewide tour

BRISBANE, Aug 26 AAP - The Queensland government has defended using $1 million in taxpayers'
money to fund a political tour across the state to promote the government's building campaign.

Premier Anna Bligh and Treasurer Andrew Fraser will spend day two of the Building for
Jobs tour in Cairns on Wednesday to promote the government's $18 billion public works
program.

Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek said the $1 million spent on the tour should
be spent elsewhere.

"They're spending a million dollars in taxpayer money when we're so badly in debt to
promote the government and what they're doing," he told ABC Radio on Wednesday.

He said the money for the tour should be put up by the Labor party instead.

Mr Fraser hit back at the criticism, saying the four-day tour was important.

"This is about providing people with information about how to get the opportunity that
comes from the jobs-generating capital works program we're doing," Mr Fraser told ABC
Radio on Wednesday.

"We can't afford as an economy to have people not starting their apprenticeships."

Ms Bligh and Mr Fraser are expected to make a major tourism announcement while in Cairns.

On Tuesday, the pair announced a scheme to fast-track 2,000 apprenticeships in the
construction, engineering and utilities sectors.

The made the announcement in Brisbane, before visiting the Gold Coast.

Ms Bligh is also defending the sale of $15 billion in public assets on the tour in
the wake of criticism by the opposition and unions.

AAP jmm/srp/maur

KEYWORD: BLIGH

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