Record $17.8 billion education budget delivers for Queensland

• Kindy will be free for every Queensland family
• $2.1 billion infrastructure investment for Queensland schools in 2023-24 alone
• $48.3 million for teacher housing in rural and remote areas
• New special school for Logan and major expansion at Springfield SHS
• Extra $29 million for hugely popular playgrounds and tuckshops upgrade program

The Palaszczuk Government is delivering free kindy, more teacher housing, and major infrastructure investment right across the state in a record $17.8 billion education budget.

14,000 families currently get free kindy, but another 50,000 are expected to benefit – many saving around $4,600 a year - from January 1 2024.

The Palaszczuk Government’s ambitious investment in education infrastructure continues, with $2.1 billion to be spent in 2023-24 alone to build, improve, expand, and maintain schools right across the state, supporting 3,700 jobs.

Separately, the establishment of a new 10 year, $1 billion rolling land fund will allow for the acquisition of land for new schools and school expansion, and $259 million over three years will see new or improved halls and performing arts centres at 18 schools right across Queensland.

Around $120 million has been set aside to build a new special school in Logan and for Springfield Central State High School to undergo a major expansion.

$358 million over 4 years will be invested in new general and specialist learning spaces throughout the state, and more than $100 million has been set aside for the future of East Brisbane State School with the consultation report set to be published in the coming weeks.

The budget also delivers $48.3 million over three years to purchase housing for teachers in rural and remote communities, or install transportable modular housing where supply is limited.

Quotes attributable to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk:

“My government will always invest in our schools, and in the future of our youngest Queenslanders.

“As well as our historic investment in free kindy, this education budget will deliver new and improved school halls, performing arts centres, specialist buildings, and state of the art class rooms for students right across Queensland.

“No matter where you live in our state, my government will invest in your education.”

Quotes attributable to Treasurer Cameron Dick:

“Like the rest of the 2023-2024 budget, this record education budget will deliver real cost of living relief with free kindy set to save families thousands of dollars a year.

“There is also $50 million to increase the supply of teacher housing, and a continued focus on good jobs and better services with more than $2 billion invested in education infrastructure this year alone - supporting around 3,700 jobs.”

Quotes attributable to Education Minister Grace Grace:

“Our record $17.8 billion education budget – an increase of 8.3% on last year – sees our ambitious investment in education infrastructure continue, because every student and all school staff deserve to learn and work in outstanding facilities.

“There is a $29 million boost to our hugely popular playgrounds and tuckshops upgrade program, with recipients from the first round set to be announced next term.

“We’re also investing nearly $50 million to increase housing supply for our teachers in regional, rural, and remote areas.

“Our teachers, teacher aides, school and learning support staff are integral to the delivery of education in each and every one of our state schools.

“There are now more than 5,900 FTE additional teachers and 1,500 FTE additional teacher aides than there were when we came to power in 2015, and we are proud of our 95% retention rate.

“In 2020, we made our Great Teachers Great Future election commitment to employ 6,100 FTE teachers and 1,100 FTE teacher aides by the end of 2024. This is both to replace those who retire or take up other roles, and to ensure we are providing a net increase in particular areas experiencing growth.

“We’ve already met our teacher aide commitment, with 1,700 FTE employed, and we are on track for our teacher target with 4,500 FTE employed so far.”

The budget also includes:

• $5 million over 4 years to strengthen local school-industry partnerships and support school to work transitions, through things like work experience, school-based apprenticeships, and industry placement for teachers. The funding will provide nine Regional School Industry Partnership managers – one centrally and one for each education region and is part of the Palaszczuk Government’s $70 million Action Plan from the Good People. Good Jobs. Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032.
  
  
• $752,000 over 2 years to extend the cross agency Townsville Early Action Group and expand to Cairns and Mount Isa. The group aims to help break the cycle of youth crime by dealing with underlying issues that lead some young people to offend including poor school attendance, mental health concerns, drug and substance misuse, domestic violence and family dysfunction. This forms part of total increased funding of $5.1 million over 3 years for the Early Action Group.
  
  
• $1.9 million boost over 5 years to the Non-State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme (NSSTAS)C
• $462,000 over 2 years to develop more tailored resources and assist education delivery for young people in watchhouses