For a government weighed down by ‘gaffes and blunders’ and an ‘inability to cement its popularity with the electorate’, according to the Courier Mail’s 4 January editorial, recent figures would suggest that after almost a year in office the Palaszczuk government has done comparatively well.

The Newspoll released on Christmas Eve showed that not only was the Premier leading Lawrence Springborg by a country mile but that after almost a year in office the ALP leads the opposition 52-48 percentage points on a two-party-preferred basis. Palaszczuk’s “de-Newmanisation” program was essential after the dehumanising policies of Campbell Newman.

Newman’s record on unemployment was hardly more impressive with unemployment levels peaking at 7 per cent. The latest December figures showed Queensland’s unemployment rate to be at 5.9%, the second lowest of all the states.

There’s always much to do but with increased expenditure on education and health the Palaszczuk government is moving in the right direction.

Frank Carroll

So it is now revealed that Joe Hockey’s spending blew out to 26.3% of GDP and the now Treasurer, Scott Morrison, is bringing it back to 25.9%. Interestingly, Morrison’s aspiration will put the figure as high as it was at the height of the global financial crisis.

Chris Richardson of Deloitte Access Economics has predicted that the combined deficits over next four years will be $38 billion more than originally forecast.

While there have been huge falls in revenue following a collapse in commodity prices, highly-respected economist Saul Eslake asserts that “the well of budget repair has been poisoned by the 2014 budget.”

Mr Morrison could argue that Joe Hockey handed him a ‘poisoned chalice’ but he and Prime Minister Turnbull are both still happy to sign off on it.

Frank Carroll