QLD:Bligh vows to go if she's a liability

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2010
QLD:Bligh vows to go if she's a liability

Eds: Adds opposition, industry comments



By Jessica Marszalek

BRISBANE, Aug 30 AAP - Premier Anna Bligh says she'll quit if she becomes a liability
for Queensland Labor, but she doesn't believe she is one.

Ms Bligh faces a tense caucus meeting on Monday, set to examine the fallout from Labor's
setback in Queensland at the August 21 federal poll.

It's also expected MPs will question their leader on the wisdom of pressing ahead with
the unpopular privatisation program.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Ms Bligh insisted she would still lead the government
at the next election in 18 months.

But pressed on whether she would step aside if she became a liability, she said she would.

"If that was the case at some stage in the future, of course, that's the responsibility
of leadership," she told reporters.

Ms Bligh said she was looking forward to a frank discussion and hearing her colleagues'
concerns and ideas for the state's future.

But she stood by her asset sales program, declaring the government could not pay down
debt or build new assets - like busways, classrooms, hospital expansions and roads - without
it.

"If any member of my team, or indeed any member of the public, has a great idea for
an economic strategy for Queensland, then I have an obligation to keep an open mind on
that," the premier said.

"And if I hear that this afternoon then I'm happy to take that on board."

But simply pulling the plug on privatisation would be "devastating" for jobs and the
building program, she said.

"It's tough but you've got to have the guts to see it through, and that's what we'll
be doing," she said.

Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek, who opposes the asset sale plan, said Ms Bligh
was already a liability.

"If you can't manage the economy, if you lose our AAA credit rating, if you give people
increases in fuel and electricity and water, then clearly you're a liability to the people
of Queensland and you should consider your position," he said.

He dismissed Ms Bligh's reasons for the assets sale, saying the LNP could restore the
state's finances by ending government waste.

But he could not say when an LNP government would bring the budget back to surplus.

The Bligh government forecasts a surplus in 2015/16.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) says the opposition should give
more consideration to the government's asset sales.

CCIQ spokesman David Goodwin said the government was on the right track in selling
some assets as long as the proceeds were used wisely.

"The LNP is in a position where they, I think, should have given the benefit of the
doubt, maybe had a bit more of a listen and a look, and thought about how do we fix this
budget position," Mr Goodwin told ABC Radio.

Senior cabinet ministers backed the premier on Monday, telling restless backbenchers
that spending in their electorates depended on the sell-off.

"Nobody takes any great joy in having to go down this path, but if we're to maintain
that infrastructure program then it's got to be paid for somehow ... and that's the strategy
that should continue," Resources Minister Stephen Robertson said.

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KEYWORD: POLL10 BLIGH 2ND UPDATE

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