The ABC’s Allyson Horn reports (13.6.17) on details of the Palaszczuk government’s third budget, including input from TJ Ryan Foundation Research Associates, Chris Salisbury and Paul Williams, on the budget’s political ramifications with a state election looming.
‘The Palaszczuk Government’s budget has been designed “to batten down the hatches” and ward off the advancements of One Nation in the face of an upcoming election, political analysts have said. Big spending on infrastructure across the state and promises of mass job creation have been largely welcomed by industry groups.
‘Political researcher at the University of Queensland, Chris Salisbury, said many of the budget gifts have been targeted to key Labor seats. “It’s a budget to batten down the hatches, or shore up the defences,” he said.
‘”It’s definitely about creating barricades against the incursion of opposition parties into seats they already hold.” The Government’s big ticket spend of $1.95 billion for Brisbane’s much-vaunted Cross River Rail project will impact much of inner-city Brisbane — a move Dr Salisbury says should play favourably for Labor seats.
‘… Griffith University political scientist Paul Williams said it was a reasonable budget, but the Government would need to work hard on selling its message.
‘”I don’t think many people would be in love with the budget given there’s a lot of cranky voters out there,” Dr Williams said. “But given there are concessions for households, moves to increase social housing, and some real spending on infrastructure, I think it’s ticking a lot of boxes.”
‘Dr Williams said the disparity between the Government’s “jobs bonanza push” and only modest improvements in the unemployment rate, could be the Government’s undoing.’
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