Wages and staff costs for Queensland’s public sector rose to more than $39 billion last year, part of a surge in spending that is heaping pressure on the Crisafulli government as it starts negotiations on a new round of pay increases.
Rising employee numbers and costs were the main contributor to the state’s operating deficit of $8.5 billion in 2024-25, compared with $1.4 billion the year before, a new report into the state’s finances shows.
