A fresh start for Far North Queensland in 2025-26 Budget

Budget delivers the foundations for a fresh start for Far North Queensland with new early intervention programs to reduce youth offending, improved health services, and extra funds to boost construction of essential housing infrastructure.
More police recruits, station upgrades to make Queensland safer.
More hospital beds and health workers to restore health services when you need them most.
Budget includes funding to deliver a new Barron River Bridge.
The Far North to have some of the first ecotourism projects delivered under Destination 2045, including an expansion to Smithfield Mountain Bike Trail and Wangetti Trail.
Boosting participation in sport and upgrading facilities to ensure Far North Queensland benefits from a lasting legacy in 2032 and beyond.

The Crisafulli Government is delivering for Far North Queensland with new early intervention programs to reduce youth offending, improved health services in Cairns and Cooktown, and extra funds to boost construction of housing infrastructure in the 2025-26 Budget.

Far North Queensland will also benefit from the Crisafulli Government’s $100 Back to School Boost vouchers, the $200 Play On! Sports Vouchers program, more frontline health workers, more police on the beat and new social and community housing.

2025-26 Budget lays the foundation for the fresh start Queenslanders voted for, addressing Labor’s youth crime, health, housing and cost of living crises.

The Budget focuses on making Queensland safer, delivering a place to call home for more Queenslanders, driving down cost of living pressures for families, providing more free healthcare and building generational infrastructure for our growing State.

The Budget includes $560 million for new early intervention programs to reduce youth offending, including a Regional Reset program for youths demonstrating high-risk behaviours and a Youth Justice School for young people on youth justice orders.

As part of the Crisafulli Government’s Hospital Rescue Plan, $181 million will be allocated to the refurbishment and expansion of Cairns Hospital. A further $200 million will be used to redevelop the Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service Facility which services the local Cook Shire catchment.

The Government will also restore maternity services for Cooktown Hospital.

The Budget includes $19 million to deliver Adolescent and Young Adult mental health beds in Cairns, and $60 million for Stage 1 of the Cairns Health and Innovation Centre.

As part of the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to restoring safety where you live, the Queensland Police Service’s aerial crime fighting capability in Far North Queensland will be extended, with an expansion to POLAIR operations.

The Budget will also contain $29 million to redevelop the Queensland Ambulance Service Cairns Operational Centre and Regional Office.

The Crisafulli Government is delivering a place to call home for more Far North Queensland residents with 561 social and community houses in construction or contracted as part of the Securing Our Housing Foundations Plan.

Smithfield Mountain Bike Trail Network will receive a major expansion with $15.5 million allocated.

Premier David Crisafulli said the Budget delivered the foundation for a fresh start for Far North Queensland, just as promised.

“Today’s Budget delivers the fresh start Queensland needs and Queenslanders voted for, to address the crises in youth crime, health, housing and cost of living,” Premier Crisafulli said.

“We are delivering to restore safety where you live, health services when you need them, a better lifestyle through a stronger economy and a plan for Queensland’s future.

“This Budget delivers cost of living relief with the $100 Back to School Boost and the $200 Play On! Sports Vouchers Program, a fully-funded Hospital Rescue Plan, a new nation-leading home ownership program to reduce the deposit gap, as well more police and early intervention to make Queensland safer.”

Member for Barron River Bree James said the Crisafulli Government was delivering for the Cairns region.

“After years of Labor failure, we’re delivering a new Barron River Bridge and planning for Far North Queensland’s future, with roads and infrastructure,” Ms James said.

Member for Mulgrave Terry James said the Budget also delivered local funding for community projects.

“The benefits of this Budget will be far and wide for the Far North, including funding towards upgrades at Jeff Pezzutti Park and an upgrade to the Edmonton Police Station,” Mr James said.

ENDS

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Atherton Hospital Ward refurbishment - $12.9 million to refurbish ward block with ancillary spaces, staff and patient amenities.
Bamaga Fire and Emergency Services Complex - $4.9 million for the fire and emergency services complex at Bamaga.
Cairns fire communications centre replacement - $8.5 million to deliver the replacement of the Fire Communications Centre at Cairns.
Cairns Hospital E Block Pharmacy and Cancer Care refurbishment - $3 million to add chemotherapy chairs and enhance the oncology ward and pharmacy.
Cairns Watchhouse - Making the community safer with upgrades to the Cairns Watchhouse.
Cairns Western Arterial Road - Delivering the Cairns Western Arterial Road, Redlynch Connector Road to Captain Cook Highway, in partnership with the Australian Government.
Community bus service - Providing a community bus for 3 years in areas like Dimbulah, Ravenshoe and Babinda.
Cooktown Oval Lights Replacement - $350,000 to replace Cooktown Oval lighting with LED fold down lights to enable night games and ease maintenance without elevated platforms.
Edmonton police facility upgrade - Delivering further improvements and maintenance upgrades to Edmonton Police Station.
Games On! Manunda Sports Precinct - $6 million for extra change rooms and lighting upgrades at the Manunda Sports Precinct.
Gilbert River Bridge - Delivering a business case for the Savannah Way focused on upgrading the Gilbert River Bridge.
Jeff Pezzutti Park - $1.5 million towards upgrades to Jeff Pezzutti Park in partnership with Cairns Regional Council, delivering a new youth activity space.
Kuranda Range Road Upgrade - Improving safety and resilience of the Kuranda Range Road (jointly funded with the Australian Government).
Moa St Pauls Public Health Community Centre rectification - $10.7 million to deliver a new extension to the public health community centre.
Napranum Council Depot Upgrades and Refurbishment - $310,000 total spend to upgrade and refurbish the Napranum Council depot with storage, bus parking slab, and minor maintenance works.
Reef Joint Field Management Program - $19.2 million for joint management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, delivered in partnership with the Australian Government.
School Savvy Program - $1.4 million over 4 years to employ a regional coordinator and family engagement officer to expand the Centacare School Savvy program currently operating in the Far North, to other regional and remote areas.
Yarrabah multipurpose facility - Delivering a business case, planning and design works for a new multipurpose indoor facility in Yarrabah which could be used as a refuge centre during natural disasters and to host local indoor sport.

MEDIA CONTACT: Mel Wightman 0434 391 038