The Queensland treasurer Cameron Dick has handed down his fifth state budget which features billions of dollars in measures to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.
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00:00 This is Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick's fifth budget and the final one before voters
00:06 head to the polls.
00:07 It's a big spending budget with the Labor State Government unapologetic about putting
00:11 next financial year's budget into deficit to help households with the cost of living.
00:16 There'll be $3 billion in new and expanded measures including the already announced six
00:20 month trial of 50 cent public transport fares, a cut to car registration for 12 months, an
00:26 increase to the stamp duty threshold for first home buys and a freeze on state collected
00:30 fees and charges like driver's licenses.
00:33 There's also billions allocated for housing, health, infrastructure and education.
00:37 Total government debt is also climbing.
00:40 The budget papers show it's expected to reach $170 billion in four years, which would also
00:45 mean billions of dollars in interest repayments.
00:47 Today the government has announced a new task force will be set up to try and find savings
00:52 across four years, targeting government spending in areas like advertising, consultants and
00:57 travel expenditure.
00:58 With the election four and a half months away, Cameron Dick says this budget makes clear
01:02 the values and plans the third term Labor government will be putting forward, claiming
01:07 this election is a fight about the future of Queensland and that it's not a referendum
01:12 on the last nine years, he says.
01:14 Our government has made the choice to reduce that cost of living pressure on Queensland
01:19 families.
01:20 We have chosen to deliver nation leading cost of living relief that will give all Queenslanders
01:26 more choice.
01:27 The LNP will deliver its budget reply speech later this week.
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