Minister for State Development Cameron Dick has today strongly rebuked Queensland's LNP leader for daring Virgin to move to New South Wales in the battle to save 5000 jobs for Queensland.
"Today Deb Frecklington has refused to back our bid to keep 5000 Virgin jobs in Queensland, including 1200 employed at the head office," Mr Dick said.
"Instead of trying to defend the raiding party from New South Wales, Deb offered only praise for her 'very good friend', NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
"This is nothing short of a betrayal of Queensland and puts thousands of Virgin Airlines jobs in our state at risk.
"Queenslanders deserve a leader who puts Queensland first, not one who gives up and lets 1200 plus head office jobs flow over the border."
Mr Dick condemned the Leader of the Opposition's ultimatum to Virgin that they had to "show us that Queensland is their number one."
"This is exactly what happened in 2013 when former Liberal Treasurer Joe Hockey dared Holden to leave Australia, thundering in the Australian Parliament to the company that 'you're either here on you're not.'
"We all know how that ended up – the destruction of the Australian car industry including 1600 Holden workers thrown on the scrap head and countless more job losses in car dealerships across Queensland and Australia.
"Whether it's in manufacturing, aviation, or the car industry, the LNP will not for fight for jobs in Queensland."
Mr Dick said that the LNP Leader did not have the ticker to stand up to Gladys Berejiklian and Scott Morrison and was demonstrating once again that she was not capable of leading or protecting Queensland.
"This is a fundamental mistake by a leader who is out of her depth when it comes to running Queensland's $350 billion economy," he said.
"The LNP Leader has shown she is unfit for office by putting her "very good friend" Gladys Berejiklian ahead of 5000 Virgin workers in our state who do not want to move to Western Sydney.
"Deb Frecklington must immediately withdraw her remarks and apologise to the 1200 Queensland Virgin head office workers whose jobs are now at risk from her remarks."
