The Queensland government has announced that a record $ 23.6 billion will be injected into the state health system during the state budget presentation.
Prime Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk hinted this morning that the budget would include “the largest investment in new hospitals and new hospital beds in Queensland history.”
A record $ 9.7 billion investment over six years to build new and larger hospitals was announced this afternoon with Queensland Health’s operating budget up 5.6%, or $ 1.16 billion.
Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick. (new)
“I promised the people of Queensland that we would be at the forefront and center of health investment,” the prime minister said.
“I said this was my number one problem.
“I am now committed to the largest healthcare investment this state has ever seen.”
According to the plan, 2,200 new hospital beds will be put online with the introduction of 280 beds that will be advanced.
Three new hospitals will be built in the southeast of the state and 11 extensions to existing hospitals across Queensland are planned.
New hospitals have been promised for Coomera on the Gold Coast, with 404 more hospital beds available.
A new cancer center will join Royal Brisbane Women ‘Hospital. (Google Maps)
Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, will also have a new hospital with 118 new beds.
A new hospital in Bundaberg will contain 121 new hospital beds.
“This is vital: I said we would fix the problem and today we are announcing the largest infrastructure program our state has ever seen,” Palaszczuk said.
There will be several expansions at hospitals in South East Queensland such as Robina, Redcliffe, Ipswich and Logan.
Brisbane Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital, Princess Alexandra Hospital and Prince Charles Hospital will also be expanded with the addition of more than 1,000 new hospital beds in the South East.
Queensland’s ambulance service is receiving $ 1.1 billion. (new)
Further north, hospitals will be expanded to Hervey Bay, Mackay in northern Queensland, Townsville and Cairns in the far north of the state.
The first of the new hospital beds will be ready in two years and the new hospitals are expected to be ready by the end of 2027.
“A new era is beginning in Queensland,” said Treasurer Cameron Dick.
“We are building the infrastructure for tomorrow.”
The announcement comes as the state government faces growing pressure to address alleged health system failures, which the government has explained to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, flu season, recent floods and shortage of workers.
Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) delays in moving their patients to fuller hospitals have also been a major concern, as some patients have reported waiting up to hours for medical attention.
QAS will get $ 1.1 billion, up 11%.
The overall increase in funding will help fulfill the state government’s commitment to hire 9,457 front-line workers over its four-year term.
“This is a record budget for health,” Dick said.
“Every year the health budget grows, but this year the increase is much more than usual.”
Expenditure on mental health services will increase by 1.6 billion over five years and will be funded at a rate to companies with a payroll of more than $ 10 million annually.
Queensland Budget Winners and Losers
Dick said the budget has been based on the state’s “exceptional economic recovery” since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the budget focused on strengthening health care, state infrastructure and jobs, as well as supporting education and the police and justice system.
“It’s a budget that marks the emergence of our state of sacrifice and resilience shown by the people of Queensland during a pandemic that has shaken and disturbed us like never before,” Dick said.
Although the treasurer predicted a budget deficit six months ago, the state has seen a $ 1.9 billion surplus, largely due to rising coal prices.
Coal royalties revenue has risen from $ 1.7 billion to $ 7.2 billion.
“It’s changed a lot since I presented last year’s budget – we’re going to be black again,” Dick said.
Coal companies will be hit with a new staggered gift scheme of up to 40 percent per dollar for anything in excess of $ 300 per tonne.
Gambling companies will also receive a new tax on betting.
“We need to ensure that big coal companies and online betting companies pay their fair share,” Dick said.
“I don’t apologize for making sure we can fund our health care system, we fund mental health.”
The tourism industry will receive $ 66.4 million over four years to boost the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. (Getty Images / iStockphoto)
The nearly $ 24 billion investment in health care has been the highlight of this state budget.
The Palaszczuk government has pledged $ 9.7 billion over six years to create three new hospitals, expand 11 hospitals and provide more than 2,500 more hospital beds.
The treasurer announced that $ 68.5 million will be invested in the development sector of the state’s resource industry for five years.
The tourism industry will also receive $ 66.4 million over four years to help operators recover from the impacts of the pandemic.
$ 19.6 billion will be invested in education and training to help young people enter the labor market.
This includes the employment of 675 more teachers and approximately 20 more teaching assistants.
The treasurer pledged an additional $ 1.2 billion for new schools.
New funds have been injected to create new coercive control laws to improve police management of domestic violence and juvenile justice law reform. (Queensland Police)
Police reform and justice
The Queensland Police Service will receive an additional $ 2.9 billion, with $ 78.8 million for four-year juvenile justice reform, followed by another $ 18.9 million ongoing.
Child protection services will receive $ 2.2 billion over five years with $ 500 million ongoing for these services.
Reforms to criminalize coercive control and address domestic violence in Queensland will cost $ 361.3 million over five years, with an additional $ 61.3 million for ongoing costs.
An additional $ 262.5 million will be used to support the state’s protected natural areas with an additional $ 40 million to protect native animals.
This includes $ 24.6 million for koala conservation projects.
More than $ 441 million will be spent on providing new social housing and upgrading existing housing with an additional $ 29.8 million to support young people facing homelessness.
But housing experts say more funding is needed to cope with the escalation of the housing crisis and the state’s homelessness rates.
Mining industries, gambling and large companies
The treasurer revealed new rates for mining industries and gambling companies amid huge waters of value.
Gambling giants will be taxed at a higher rate with a rate of companies earning more than $ 10 million a year to support a new mental health fund.
A record $ 6.8 billion available in concessions was mentioned, but no new funding was announced to combat rising living costs and pressures.
Transportation infrastructure also saw little mention with ministers hoping to push for more funding in the next federal budget.
A $ 3.5 billion pledge was made to improve Queensland’s rail services, but that was also announced earlier.