Qld: State govt seizes on Access Economics report

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2001
Qld: State govt seizes on Access Economics report

BRISBANE, April 9 AAP - The Queensland government today seized on an economic report
that indicated the Sunshine State held the key to keeping Australia out of recession.

The Access Economics five year business outlook, released at the weekend, said Australia
was skating close to a recession.

But the report also said the Queensland economy was doing well on the back of a strong
housing sector and export growth.

Premier Peter Beattie today said the forecast showed his government had gotten its
"economic fundamentals" right.

"We're holding up Australia," Mr Beattie told a news conference.

"Access Economics is indicating that Queensland will be the economic base of Australia
and that's been (due to) planning long term development, long term jobs and including
a lot of emphasis on exports.

"The indicators suggest that Queensland is the only state that's forging ahead."

The Access Economics report was backed up by a construction company, which borrowed
from former Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen by pointing to the number of cranes on the
Brisbane skyline as a visible sign that Queensland's economy was growing.

Hutchinson Builders managing director Scott Hutchinson said the commissioning of a
new crane on the city's CBD waterfront today was the first in the area in more than a
decade.

The crane was being erected for a $100 million development at 175 Eagle Street, the
largest commercial project in Brisbane since the completion of Waterfront Place, he said.

The seven cranes on the skyline highlighted the strength of building activity in the city.

"Both today's Access Economics report and the state government believe this is underpinning
the Queensland economy and Queensland's role in saving the nation from recession," Mr
Hutchinson said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Mr Beattie said he would continue to focus on exports, despite the national
and international economic "hiccups".

He travels to Egypt later this month to push Queensland's beef exports.

AAP bja/jfs/sc/cjh/de

KEYWORD: ACCESS OUTLOOK QLD

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