More than 50,000 Queenslanders have now made submissions on the Queensland Government’s Strong Choices website, recording their choices for paying down the state’s $80 billion accumulated debt.
Treasurer Tim Nicholls said the site had recorded more than one million page views by more than 214,000 unique users.
“These numbers show Queenslanders have a genuine interest in dealing with our $80 billion debt so we can reduce our interest payments and fund the roads, rail, schools and hospitals our growing state needs,” Mr Nicholls said.
“We want to keep delivering on our promise to grow our four pillar economy and deliver better infrastructure for Queenslanders but we’re constrained by the Government’s $4 billion a year interest bill.
“We must pay down the $80 billion of accumulated debt, otherwise our future prosperity is threatened.
“The Strong Choices website will be open for submissions until next Monday, 19 May, so I urge anyone who wants to participate to visit the website and consider the choices to increase taxes, cut services or sell or lease some assets.
“The feedback from Queenslanders will be incorporated into the Government’s draft plan to deal with the debt.
“I’ll be releasing that plan with the Budget papers on 3 June.”
Mr Nicholls said the government would take a range of factors into account in formulating the plan.
“Public submissions will be considered, along with the best advice from Treasury on the economic implications of the choices we face, as well as the social impacts,” he said.
To make a submission go to www.StrongChoices.qld.gov.au.
