Strong Plan delivers brighter future for Outback Queensland

The 2014-15 State Budget continues to deliver a strong plan for a brighter future for all of Queensland, including the Outback Queensland.

Treasurer Tim Nicholls said the budget outlined the Government’s plan to secure Queensland’s finances by making the strongest and smartest choice to reduce debt.

“It carefully balances increases in education, health and community services spending, while not raising taxes or reducing services,” Mr Nicholls said.

“We are also making the strongest and smartest choice to secure our finances so we can reduce debt and reinvest funds into the schools, hospitals and infrastructure that we know our regions are going to need.

“This year’s budget includes a capital spend of almost $380 million in the Outback alone.

“We’re also providing a more than $120 million for local government recovery and reconstruction projects in the region in partnership with the Federal Government.”

Mr Nicholls said the Queensland Government was delivering a record $13.6 billion health budget, an increase of 6 per cent from last year.

“We’re significantly boosting regional health services,” he said.

“This year we’re providing $7.7 million to complete the redevelopment of the Mount Isa Health Campus, $1.1 million to improve facilities at Charleville Hospital and $800,000 to boost facilities at Longreach Hospital.

“We’re also spending $2.6 million to engage a private provider to deliver a mobile surgical van program for rural and remote communities.”

Mr Nicholls said the Queensland Government was committed to improving regional Queensland’s roads network.

“This year’s budget includes $7 million towards the $24 million program of upgrades for Outback Way, in partnership with the Federal Government,” he said.

“We’re also providing $18.4 million for the Cape York Region Package, a program of upgrades to key roads and infrastructure to improve communities’ access to economic opportunities.”

Other major roads projects include:

• $4.9 million to widen and seal shoulders of the Canarvon Highway, south of Injune
• $3.8 million to replace a bridge at Yuleba Creek on the Roma-Condamine Road
• $2.4 million for bridge approaches at Companion Creek on the Clermont-Alpha Road, north of Alpha
• $4.8 million for the Cloncurry Heavy Vehicle Bypass

“This budget also invests in a range of programs for indigenous Queenslanders,” Mr Nicholls said.

“We’re providing $8 million to continue the Cape York Welfare Reform to improve opportunities for indigenous Queenslanders and we’re putting $7.6 million towards the Queensland Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger Program in Cape York and the Lake Eyre Basin.

“The budget also includes $1.3 million to upgrade the Government-owned store at Kowanyama, $1.1 million to complete the Road Network Plans in the Torres Strait and more than $1.7 million for the Torres Strait Islands Child Safe House.”

Mr Nicholls said the 2014-15 Budget allocated an additional 267 police officers.

“In the Outback region we’re making sure our officers have access to the resources needed to do their jobs.

“The Thursday Island Police Station is getting $2 million this year as part of a $4 million upgrade and there is an additional $1.5 million for police housing at Bamaga.”

Other major community infrastructure projects funded in the 2014-15 Budget include:

• $2.2 million to replace the Mount Isa Neighbourhood Centre
• $1.7 million for the Mornington Island Safe Haven Women’s Resource Centre
• $1.5 million to Richmond Shire Council for a bore water treatment plant
• $1.7 million to complete the North Hughenden sewerage scheme and treatment plant upgrade
• $850,000 for Stage One of the Barcaldine Kindergarten and Childcare Centre
• $857,000 to the Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council to complete construction of a civic centre
• Almost $500,000 to the Boulia Shire Council to improve community facilities.

Mr Nicholls said the budget was another step forward in the Government’s positive plan for the state.

“We are making significant progress in restoring our finances, growing a four pillar economy, revitalising frontline services and funding infrastructure projects,” he said.

“But to sustain this we must reduce debt so we can truly keep building on our strong plan for a brighter future.”

[ENDS] 3 June 2014

Media Contact – Treasurer’s Office 07 3719 7200