Anna Bligh

Anna visits Cairns

Anna visited Cairns this morning for some good news for local tourism.

The Queensland Government has partnered with Jetstar to deliver four new services a week between Osaka in Japan and Cairns. It means a massive 62,400 per year seat increase.

In tough times, Labor is committed to protecting Tropical North tourism operators and the 12,500 people they employ.

Anna visits Toowoomba and Ipswich

Today Anna went to Toowoomba and visited John Smith, a homeowner who could benefit from her new solar hot water scheme – which will also help create jobs.

Queensland families will save up to $300 a year on their electricity bills and dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions under a re-elected Bligh Government’s new solar hot water program.

The plan will create up to 500 installation jobs and 300 manufacturing, maintenance and distribution jobs across the State.

“This will deliver up to 200,000 solar hot water systems to Queensland families for $500 each - a fraction of the retail price of electric systems - over the next three years,” Anna said.

“In Toowoomba alone, local company Solahart, who already employ around 12 people estimate they will create around 12 new jobs because of our plan.”

After Toowoomba, Anna visited Riverlink Shopping Centre in Ipswich and chatted to locals.

You can count on me: Anna

Anna’s campaign launch today kicked off with Troy Cassar-Daley singing live “Rise and Shine” and “This Day is Mine” and ended with a standing ovation.

“My highest priority is saving the jobs of today and creating the jobs of tomorrow,” Anna said.

Anna committed a re-elected Labor Government to:

• Create 100,000 new jobs in the next term;
• Push forward with the $17 billion building program; and
• Provide 200,000 solar hot water systems to families at a fraction of the retail price, saving the average family $300 a year on their power bill.

Anna’s job plan will be advanced on four main fronts: keeping the building program going, planning for the recovery by expanding the skills base, supporting new industries such as Liquid Natural Gas, and developing new job creation programs like the “Green Army”.

For these and other announcements in today’s speech log on to here.

Anna said Queenslanders had a clear choice between her plan to secure and create jobs, and Lawrence Springborg’s plan to cut $1 billion and 12,000 jobs from vital public services.

“Saturday’s election will present Queenslanders with a clear choice. A choice between jobs and cuts.

“Between taking Queensland back or stepping forward; between pretending our challenges don’t exist, or facing them head on.

“Between allowing the ravages of a global recession to weaken us or keep Queensland strong.

“Between the prospect of a minority Government made up of an unstable coalition, propped up by the Independents and One Nation…or a strong, stable, majority Labor Government.”

This morning Anna shared time with mine worker Dustin, his wife Crystal and their daughters Calli and Jessica (pictured).

This is what the Premier said about Dustin and his family in her campaign launch speech today:

“Dustin has worked most of his adult life in the mining industry,” Anna said.

“He’s driven trucks, loaders and dozers.

“It’s hard work but he loves it.

“It’s kept bread on his family’s table.

“But in February this year Dustin was retrenched. He represents the human costs of the global recession.

“Dustin’s not alone. And as this economic storm continues, there are likely to be many more families feeling the brunt of the global financial crisis.

“But we must never let the statistics deaden our senses to the fact that behind every one of those numbers, there are very real stories like Dustin’s.

“I gave Dustin and Crystal a commitment this morning – that I will fight with every fibre of my being for jobs and a return to prosperity.

“And that’s what sets us apart from our opponents.

“In this election, Queenslanders have a stark choice: jobs or cuts.

“That’s the difference between us and them.”

Gas Super Highway means more jobs for Queensland

After attending an Oil Spill Recovery meeting in Brisbane this morning, Anna went to Gladstone to announce plans for a gas “super highway” which could help generate thousands of jobs and billions of dollars for Queensland’s economy.

Looking over Gladstone harbour from Auckland Point, Anna announced a $30 million pipeline corridor for the proposed Curtis Island LNG refinery.

“I have a plan to create jobs and I am committed to giving our full support to this industry for the future,” Anna said.

“The corridor will act as a common use underground gas ‘super highway’ for companies at gas fields across the Surat and Bowen Basins”.

Springborg's cuts - the expert view

See independent expert John Wanna’s assessment of Lawrence Springborg’s plan to cut $1 billion from vital public services and jobs by clicking here.

He says cutting $1 billion from the State Budget can’t be done without affecting frontline services and jobs.