State Cabinet to meet in Toowoomba next week
Published Friday, 15 September, 2017 at 05:45 AM
Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk
State Cabinet will meet in Toowoomba on Monday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.
The Premier, who will open the Carnival of Flowers Parade in Toowoomba on Saturday, said Cabinet was focussed on infrastructure and service delivery for Darling Downs and south-west Queensland.
"The Budget in June committed $917 million for infrastructure across the Darling Downs and a record $761 million for the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Services. In all, the Budget will support an estimated 4300 jobs," she said.
"In addition to the upgrades of the Warrego and New England Highways, we have been working with the Commonwealth to deliver the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing."
The Premier said the Government's commitment to health services, included $3 million to start detailed planning for a new Toowoomba Hospital and hiring extra doctors and nurses.
"This week marks the fifth anniversary of Tim Nicholls's first Budget that cut 14,000 government workers. In the Darling Downs alone, Tim Nicholls cut 136 nursing and midwifery jobs in the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service (DDHHS),” she said.
“As of June 1 this year, 46 doctors and 200 nurses and midwifes have been added to DDHHS under my Government. I'm proud of our record and thankful to those men and women working on the frontline to keep Queenslanders safe."
"At the time of Tim Nicholls' savage cuts, the LNP Member for Toowoomba North Trevor Watts told The Chronicle that job cuts were the 'only way'. My Government has proved that's wrong, but the LNP are already commuting to 'right size the public service again."
State Cabinet met in Maryborough last week as part of Governing from Wide Bay.
Media contact: Kirby Anderson (Premier’s office) 0417 263 791