Qld budget stabilising: Treasurer There has been a wafer thin improvement in Queensland's budget, but the spectre of debt still hangs over the state. The government managed to shave $60 million off this year's forecast deficit since the June budget, bringing it to $7.6 billion on the back of modest GST growth and property tax income. There has also been a slight improvement in debt which is estimated to come in at $76.97 billion, $1.16 billion less than predicted. Despite the marginal improvement, it is double that of other states and equates to about $15,000 per person. Treasurer Tim Nicholls says the budget is now fairly stable and cuts recommended by the Costello Commission of Audit has improved the bottom line. "Although debt is forecast to grow more slowly over the forward estimates, a significant reduction in debt levels is not projected under current policy settings," Mr Nicholls wrote in his mid-year budget update. General taxation for 2013-14 is better than forecast, up $63 million, but down $205 million across forward estimates. That milestone is still years off, Mr Nicholls conceded, and the election promise to achieve a four per cent unemployment rate by 2018 is also a "tough task." Debt is expected to continue to grow to $81.45 billion by 2016-17, and there wouldn't be a significant reduction without asset sales, tax rises or service cuts. A boom in liquefied natural exports will help double economic growth to six per cent in 2015-16, which will offset a downturn in coal. Public service union Together cast doubt on Mr Nicholls' long-term forecasts, especially in light of improvements for this year. "When the budget was going badly there was a reason to privatise, when the budget improves there's a reason to privatise," Secretary Alex Scott says. Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Mulherin said despite delivering two budgets, the LNP has no real plan apart from asset sales. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) was concerned that employment growth has been downgraded by half a percentage point but thinks overall the government is managing its books well. "We're optimistic that hopefully the economy has turned the corner and is now starting to improve, but employment is always a lag measure," general manager Nick Behrens told AAP.