Labor will have nowhere to hide if job losses follow the Federal Budget handed down on Tuesday, the Opposition has warned.

Shadow Employment and Small Business Minister Tim Nicholls said the Palaszczuk-Gordon Government had done nothing but spread fear into Queenslanders about alleged cuts to Education and Health.

“This is despite the fact they can’t outline what they are going to do with the billions of dollars the Federal Government is pouring into Queensland over the next few years,” Mr Nicholls said.

“It’s no secret that Curtis Pitt is looking for a scapegoat, like the Federal Government, to blame for his inability to deliver on his election promises to pay down debt, deliver a surplus and create jobs.

“Labor had a prime opportunity to use the Federal Budget, the most generous small business budget in decades, to instil some desperately-needed confidence in the Queensland economy but instead they played politics.

“If jobs are cut in Queensland then the blame lies squarely with the Palaszczuk-Gordon Government.”

Mr Nicholls said Tuesday’s Federal Budget had been praised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) as the friendliest Federal Budget for small businesses in twenty years.

“Small businesses, the engine room of the Queensland economy, will benefit from the lowest company tax rate in almost fifty years,” he said.

“This will go a long way in ensuring that conditions are ripe for job-creation.

“It’s time for the Labor Government in Queensland to follow Canberra’s lead and reveal its plan to support grassroots employment in Queensland.

“All Labor has done so far is axe the LNP’s payroll tax cuts that would have supported thousands of jobs in the small and medium business sector.

“According to the CCIQ, this poor Labor decision put 4000 Queensland jobs in jeopardy.
“The Federal Budget has put the spotlight on the Palaszczuk-Gordon Government and its lack of a State jobs plan.

“Business confidence in Queensland has fallen to record lows in recent weeks thanks to a Government with no direction.

“Labor needs to stop passing the buck and show Queenslanders they’re capable of governing the state.”