General News
25 June, 2022
State Budget announced: What it means for Cairns
ON Tuesday, the Palaszczuk Government released the 2022-23 State budget.
Cairns businesses, industries and residents were eager to find out how the budget would benefit the region and what urgent needs would be addressed in it.
Here is an overview of the State’s Government investment in Cairns that will impact some of the region’s primary concerns.
HEALTH
The Palaszczuk Government will invest $9.78 billion in hospitals and beds across Queensland. For Cairns, this means:
• $250 million for the Cairns Hospital Expansion to establish 96 new beds by 2026; and
• Forty-five extra beds through a leasing arrangement to expand sub-acute services in Cairns next year.
THE REGION WILL ALSO BENEFIT FROM:
• A record $23.6 billion health and ambulance services budget
• $229.7 million funding over two years allocated for the Accelerated Infrastructure Delivery Program, which will deliver around 289 additional beds from 2023 to 2024 across seven projects in West Moreton, Gold Coast, Metro South and Cairns
• $1.1 billion in 2022-23 for the Queensland Ambulance Service, up 11 per cent on last year
• $1.64 billion in additional funding over five years for mental health, alcohol and other drug services.
The budget will also provide $6.78 billion in additional operating funding over the next four years to support the growth of the health workforce as part of the State’s commitment to employ an extra 9,745 staff in this term of government.
ENVIRONMENT AND WATER SECURITY
The Palaszczuk Government have committed $262.5 million to expand the state’s network of protected areas.
• The investment will go to create new national parks and support 17,000 jobs that rely on tourism in protected areas like the Great Barrier Reef
• $291 million has been allocated as part of the 10-year Recycling and Jobs Fund
• $672 million will be provided to councils to ensure no direct cost to households from the waste levy
• The Government will allocate an additional $32 million toward community-focused climate action.
In terms of water infrastructure, the State has committed over $510 million for water infrastructure across Queensland. In addition, the Far North will see $107.5 million over the next two years for the Cairns Water Security Project – Stage 1.
TO SECURE WATER SUPPLY IN THE COMING YEARS, THE STATE ALSO ALLOCATED:
• $7.1 million over four years to enhance water modelling capacity to support water planning, water security and infrastructure assessments
• $5.5 million over four years to develop a Queensland bulk water infrastructure assessment plan, a strategic framework to inform future water infrastructure investment decisions
• $4.9 million over four years for a Queensland rural water compliance system to develop improved systems and capability, which will support the department’s compliance and enforcement of the Water Act 2000
• $3.4 million over four years to address recommendations from the Queensland Audit Office report into dam safety regulations including recruiting specialist regulation, compliance and engineering staff and further developing information communication technology capability.
HOUSING
Housing has been an ongoing issue in the region since the beginning of the pandemic, and the community has constantly mentioned housing as one of their biggest concerns.
• The 2022-23 State budget includes $441.3 million for capital purchases and capital grants through the Queensland Housing Investment Growth Initiative to deliver new social homes and upgrade existing dwellings for vulnerable Queenslanders
• An additional $125.6 million, over four years, for the 127 government-funded centres to increase the delivery of services for Queenslanders in need
• The Queensland Government will expand the 12 Community Connect Workers program to 20 workers in select neighbourhoods and community centres across the state. This will mean an additional $9.33 million over four years. These workers will provide assistance to people at risk of homelessness or fleeing domestic violence by connecting them to specialised local services
• Investment of $39 million to deliver new neighbourhood centres and significantly improve existing centres
• Investment of $29.8 million over four years to support initiatives to specifically assist young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Queensland.
PLAN FOR TOURISM RECOVERY
• $15 million over two years for the Tourism Experience Development Fund
• A two-year, $22 million investment in the budget will support priority ecotourism and cultural attractions
• The Act Eco initiative will receive $5 million to activate low-impact ecotourism infrastructure near state forests, timber reserves and national parks.
• $186.1 million over four years for Stadium Queensland’s day-to-day operations and ongoing maintenance expenses, and $68.1 million to maintain its $2.9 billion facilities portfolio ahead of Brisbane 2032
• $3.5 million over three years for the highly successful Great Barrier Reef Education Experience for Queensland school students.
SUPPORT FOR FIRST NATIONS
The 2022-23 budget will see an investment of over $74 million for First Nation’s people to strengthen culture and help Indigenous communities thrive.
• There will be increased funding of $3.1 million over four years to implement initiatives agreed under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap
• $1.5 million funding boost to support First Nations communities with Alcohol Management Plans through grants focused on addressing sly grog and homebrew and local programs and services
• Investment of $16.7 million over four years to address land administration requirements and infrastructure planning in remote and regional communities, including more homeownership opportunities
• An investment in employment and economic development in remote First Nations communities of $1.9 million over two years to support locally-led development plans.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Overall the 2022-23 State budget covers an array of areas and needs across Queensland that are impossible to address all at once. This overview covers some of the main concerns for the Far North, including the water shortage, housing crisis, tourism recovery and health staff shortage. To find out more about the State budget and how it will impact other areas like small businesses, employment, education and more, visit https://budget.qld.gov.au/
