Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has blamed the previous Labor government for public sector job cuts but refused Opposition requests to release figures on how many workers had been axed.

Opposition leader Annastacia Palaszczuk asked in Parliament yesterday for full details.

“Will the Premier finally be honest with Queenslanders and today give them the figures of how many working, temporary and contract government workers have been axed in the past three weeks?” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Mr Newman said blamed the Labor for what he called a “sad” situation.

“I have reflected on a number of occasions in the last few weeks about how sad the government is that people are losing their jobs, but I have also reflected that those who have put people in the situation where they are losing their jobs are members of the Australian Labor Party,” Mr Newman said.

Mr Newman said the previous government employed 20,000 more people than the Queensland taxpayers could afford.

He said he wished some of the unions would work with them to help run the Queensland Public Service.

“We do not want to see anyone lose their job,” he said.