QLD:Qld growth short of predictions: Bligh

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2010
QLD:Qld growth short of predictions: Bligh

BRISBANE, Dec 1 AAP - Queensland's economy grew 2.3 per cent last financial year, short
of the three per cent predicted.

Premier Anna Bligh revealed the figure, from the state's upcoming annual economic report,
as she laid out the challenges Queensland will face next year.

"Today's national accounts show that the recovery in Queensland, however, is still
gathering pace," she said at an economic lunch in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Ms Bligh said strong growth in private capital investment had been recorded but warned
the state's economic recovery would continue to face challenges in 2011.

She said a strong Australian dollar would have an impact on areas like export revenues.

"And that translates straight through to our budget and royalties, I think, will need
to be written down because they're paid in American dollars," she said.

The housing and construction industry also remained subdued, she said.

Ms Bligh listed three key challenges for the new year - managing booming growth in
mining regions, the slow recovery of tourism and construction, and modernising and diversifying
the state's economy with emerging industries.

She said this year had been a tough one, in which her own popularity had taken a hit.

"I'll certainly enjoy putting 2010 in the rear vision mirror and 2011, I think, holds
a lot of promise for Queensland," she said.

A weekend Galaxy poll gave the opposition Liberal National Party a 20-point lead over
Labor, two-party preferred.

AAP jmm/tnf/rj

KEYWORD: ECONOMY QLD

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