Media | State News

Unemployment rate remains worst in nation

19th December 2019

More than 170,000 Queenslanders will be out of work this Christmas with ABS figures revealing the state’s unemployment rate remained the highest in the nation under Labor.

The jobs data released today showed Queensland’s unemployment rate rose 0.3 per cent to 6.4 per cent (trend) in the last year and there were 173,600 Queenslanders on the unemployment queue.

LNP Deputy Leader Tim Mander said Queensland had suffered five years of failure under Annastacia Palaszczuk and people were paying the price with their jobs.

“No other state in Australia has a jobs crisis as bad as Queensland under Annastacia Palaszczuk,” Mr Mander said.

“More than 173,000 Queenslanders out of work doesn’t happen by accident – it’s a direct result of five years of economic failure by the Palaszczuk Labor Government.

“The economy has been bogged down by Labor’s nine new and increased taxes, debt soaring toward $92 billion, and an unwillingness to build infrastructure.

“Labor’s not working for Queensland and the only jobs Annastacia Palaszczuk and Labor care about are their own.”

ABS figures showed the unemployment queue grew by 12,019 in the last 12 months and was up 18,225 since the last state election.

“Queensland can’t afford another four years of failure,” Mr Mander said.

“The LNP has a plan to create jobs by building better roads and new dams, delivering cheaper electricity prices and guaranteeing no new taxes.”