NEWMAN SLAPS SHOCK-JOCK JONES WITH LAWSUIT

QUEENSLAND Premier Campbell Newman has taken the very public stoush with Alan Jones to the courts after launching a defamation case against the shock jock.

Newman confirmed the legal action in Brisbane this morning during a press conference while announcing the LNP's policy to assist small businesses.

The Premier says the action was taken to "test" claims made by Jones in recent weeks regarding allegations that the government had favoured coal miner New Hope Corporation because of political donations to the LNP.

Jones has alleged that Newman reneged on a commitment made by the Premier prior to the 2012 state election that stage three of New Hope's Acland mine on the Darling Downs would not proceed.

Newman has denied allegations of impropriety, however the stoush has been fired up by Jones in recent weeks.

Jones went into overload on this morning's 2GB program, which is aired on Fairfax Radio's 4BC in Brisbane. The lawsuit also names 4BC as a defendant.

Jones this morning described the Premier as a "political novice" by taking the matter to court and accused the government of treating "all these mining outfits like royalty".

A spokesman for the Premier says similar claims of impropriety by Jones in 2012 were proven to be false and Newman has moved to have the latest allegations against his government put through the rigours of a court of law.

The claim, which names Minister for Infrastructure Jeff Seeney as a plaintiff, has been filed in the Queensland Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the LNP Government today announced plans to further cut red and green tape for Queensland business in its next term of office, as well as a commitment to no new taxes for the business sector.

"Under Labor, Queensland businesses were being slugged with soaring taxes and charges and were choked with a tangle of red tape that got in the way of growth," Newman says.

"Since coming to office, the LNP has been working hard to make it easier to do business in Queensland by reducing unnecessary regulation and lowering costs.

"We've slashed red and green tape, getting rid of 9400 regulatory requirements to save businesses around $425 million a year.

"We've already cut payroll tax once and reduced paperwork for small business. We've announced our plan to increase the exemption threshold by $300,000 over the next three years, saving businesses even more.

"Under our Strong Choices asset leasing plan, we will reduce power costs for Queensland business, with savings of around $1400 over five years for the typical small business on tariff 22.

"South-east Queensland businesses will also benefit from lower water bills as part of our plan to reduce SEQ Water's debt by $2 billion."

The LNP has also committed to invest $590 million in business-focused innovation, entrepreneurship, research and development partnerships to create what it says will be "the next wave of industry and jobs".