Qld: Fraser says Qld budget to be toughest in 50 years

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2009
Qld: Fraser says Qld budget to be toughest in 50 years

BRISBANE, April 9 AAP - Queensland Treasurer Andrew Fraser says a drop in economic
activity, as shown by the latest jobless figures, will make this year's budget the toughest
in decades.

New figures released on Thursday showed Queensland's unemployment rate had risen to
4.8 per cent in March from 4.5 per cent on February.

The figure was well up on the 3.6 per cent recorded a year ago.

Mr Fraser said it would make budget deliberations tough.

"Queensland will see a clear course of action in the toughest set of circumstance created
in this nation and around the world for the better part of a century," Mr Fraser said.

Mr Fraser said he would frame a budget to take Queensland beyond the current economic downturn.

"This will be a tough budget," he said.

Mr Fraser said the reduced economic activity would put GST revenue at risk.

AAP stg/ac/pjo/ldj

KEYWORD: JOBS QLD

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