General News
4 November, 2025
Region dudded once again
THE Cairns region is still being dudded by billions of dollars in state government spending.
In the 2025-26 state budget, Cairns was allocated $1.094 billion or $4061 per resident, eighth out of 10 regions and below the state average of $4344.
Only Greater Brisbane ($9.069 billion, $3262 per person) and the Sunshine Coast ($1.56bn or $3557 per person) fell below Cairns in the average spend.
Other centres with similar populations received more, such as Townsville ($1.545bn, $6249) and Toowoomba/Darling Downs ($1.704bn, $5546).
But over a 10-year term the figures are stark.
Deputy mayor Brett Olds told Wednesday’s council meeting that in the past 10 years Central Queensland (Fitzroy) region received $6.69bn more than Cairns, Townsville region $2.13bn, Wide Bay region $3.13bn, Toowoomba/Darling Downs region $1.63 bn and Mackay region $1.1bn.
“And again, we keep dropping off those years. We talk about ebbs and flows. And you know what, if we had no critical infrastructure needs, you wouldn’t, yes, help out other people that need it,” he said.
“We have a lot of critical infrastructure needs up here in our region and we’re just not getting our fair share.”
Cr Brett Moller (Div. 1 ) said apart from the council and Cr Olds, there had been no advocacy by organisations such as Advance Cairns and RDA.
“I don’t see any of our advocacy bodies jumping up and down about this,’ he said.
Cr Moller said the new government was focused on the regions, holding three out of four seats in the Far North, but the Labor Member for Cairns Michael Healy had been in office for 10 years.
“Mr Healy is still there. He’s been there for 10 years. It’d be nice – him being the last (ALP) man standing – if he could explain this. He could explain this.
“But certainly even going forward what are our advocacy bodies going to do collaboratively to have this addressed?, he said.
The report said the figures rose in the 2025-26 budget by 23% compared to 2024-25 and 10 per cent higher than 2023-24.
“Despite a general trend upwards in recent years, budgeted direct capital expenditure per person (capita) of $27,390 for the Cairns region over the 10 years to 2025/26 remains the lowest of any region outside south-east Queensland,” the report said.
