Queenslanders may face tough choice Queensland taxpayers may be asked to choose between a rock and a hard place as the state government prepares to release the commission of audit report. An all-day Cabinet meeting has been called to discuss the government's response to the 1000-page report, which included 155 recommendations for lowering the state's debt levels and regaining the prized AAA credit rating. Walking into the meeting on Wednesday morning, Treasurer Tim Nicholls said the government and the state had some tough decisions. "Queenslanders have a clear choice," Mr Nicholls said. Increase taxes and charges or the sell down of government businesses to reduce debt. An executive summary made public when the report was handed to the government at the end of February made clear selling state assets and outsourcing services was the preferred option for achieving the government's aims. Mr Nicholls said the report suggested it was the most "practical" way of lowering debt levels. However Premier Campbell Newman has repeatedly stated he will not sell state assets without a mandate, which would mean taking the issue to an election. Mr Newman has also said he is against the sale of the "natural monopolies," such as those which exist in the energy sector, like the poles and wire businesses and Queensland's commercial ports. Energy Minister Mark McArdle said the decision the government made today "will define this government and set the agenda for many years to come." However he said while the decision must be about both immediate and long-term outcomes, he believed asset sales should be a "matter of if, not when." Cabinet will settle into "broad" range discussions for the rest of the day. The audit report and the government's response are scheduled to be publicly released next week.