Redmond's apology over job cut proposal

State Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond has backtracked on yesterday’s proposal to slash 20,000 public service jobs if the Liberals win government.

She has since admitted her math was wrong, and that the party had not even discussed any policy on public sector jobs.

“It was not one of my finest days,” she said.

“I mathematically jumped back to the figure that we’d when we were last in government and proceeded on that basis, not withstanding…that we haven’t even had a discussion about the policy on that, let alone come to a conclusion.

“I am more than happy to apologise.”

Ms Redmond played down suggestion the gaffe could cost her the leadership role.

“I don’t think that there will be any challenge to my leadership as a result of this,” she said.

“The only people who don’t mistakes are the people who don’t do anything.

“I can guarantee I don’t have a hidden agenda, and I reckon I do know what I am doing, but yesterday I had an off day and I made a mistake.”

She also had a message for public servants who may be concerned their jobs are in jeopardy under a Liberal Government.

“I would like to reassure them that I actually value the public service and that we don’t intend to do a Campbell Newman and come slashing through the public sector,” she said.

“If we do have to reduce - and that’s an ‘if’ we do have to reduce when we come into government - any reduction, we believe, can be made simply by natural attrition and retirement.”