Political Chronicles: Queensland July to December 2016

Abstract

The second half of 2016 brought mixed economic news to Queensland. Soaring coal prices and a recovering tourism sector allowed the Treasurer to announce a sizeable mid-year budget surplus, but employment growth and business confidence, especially in the regions, remained suppressed. The Palaszczuk Labor government therefore remained largely on the defensive, especially after a ministerial gaffe, failures in Queensland Rail and accusations that the government had achieved too little by way of tangible economic reform. Even so, Labor, which at least achieved significant social policy reform, remained competitive in opinion polls against a “mediocre” Liberal-National Party Opposition (ABC News, 22 November 2016) and a surging One Nation (Courier Mail, 6 August 2016).