Disasters lift Budget debt

QUEENSLAND could be plunged further into debt to cope with an estimated $1.5 billion Budget blow dealt by the state’s summer of disasters.

Treasurer Jackie Trad yesterday did not rule out borrowing more to meet the cost of flood and bushfire repairs, admitting the rising damage bill would impact on the Budget bottom line. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday dedicated the bulk of her keynote speech at the Queensland Media Club to climate change.