Federal Budget shows desperate Scott Morrison has given up on Queensland

The 2022-23 Federal Budget shows that Scott Morrison has written Queensland off.

Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said the Prime Minister had made a cold political calculation at the expense of every Queenslander in his desperate bid for re-election.

“This is a budget for the next six weeks, not the next four years,” the Treasurer said.

“Instead of giving Queensland our fair share, Scott Morrison has clearly decided that he needs votes more in other states than in Queensland.

“He’s spending big in those states, and in doing so showing his scorn for Queenslanders.

“It’s a deliberate pattern that you can see right across the budget.”

Health

“All Queensland asks from Scott Morrison is a fair partnership to meet the health needs of our growing population.

“Instead, the Budget Papers reveal Scott Morrison will cut $21 million from Queensland public hospitals next financial year.

“Scott Morrison is also cutting $176 million from Queensland hospitals in 2023‑24 and 2024‑25, compared to funding promised just four months ago. (Budget Paper 3 p.19)

“Queensland hospitals losing federal funding will mean Queenslanders will have to wait longer for the health treatment they deserve.”

Transport

“Queenslanders have figured Scott Morrison out – he’s all announcement and no delivery.

“Nowhere is this clearer than when it comes to funding big road and rail infrastructure projects.

“Scott Morrison says this budget contains $3.3 billion for road and rail in Queensland, but when you check the figures, there’s only $446.5 million across the four years of this budget.  (Budget Paper 2 p.109)

“Scott Morrison has denied Queenslanders 86% of his own announcement.”

Housing

“We cannot address housing availability without sustained Federal investment in social housing, and once again Scott Morrison has shirked his responsibility”

“Scott Morrison has decided he doesn’t need the votes of people in the private rental market, so they have been abandoned in this budget.”

Energy and Renewables

The Treasurer said Scott Morrison’s refusal to put a single dollar towards the region‑changing CopperString project showed the LNP was walking away from regional Queensland.

“Our government stands ready to deliver infrastructure that will bring a new future for North Queensland, but clearly Scott Morrison only cares about a headline,” the Treasurer said.

“We also wrote to the Morrison Government asking them to match our $2 billion investment in renewable energy, green hydrogen and emissions reduction.

“While other states are receiving billions for renewable energy, Queensland once again gets nothing.”

Water projects

“The Budget also shows that Scott Morrison’s big promises about new dams for Queensland amount to nothing.

“The Budget item that supposedly spends $5.4 billion on a single project, Hells Gates Dam, barely contains $1 billion over four years for water projects right across the state.” (Budget Paper 2 p.147)

Media Contact: Geoff Breusch 0417 272 875