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2021 Queensland State Budget at a glance

2021 Queensland State Budget at a glance

Moore Australia

Queensland Treasurer, Cameron Dick, delivered the state's 2020-21 budget yesterday, on the same day Queensland borders were open to New South Wales and Victorian travellers. 

Similar to budgets released by other states, the focus was on creating jobs, while also focussing on “rebounding from COVID-19 impacts” and celebrating the success of Queensland in response to the pandemic.

The budget is focused on getting the Queensland economy moving sooner with the priorities listed as:

  • Creating jobs

  • Backing small businesses to support jobs and communities across the state

  • Increasing investment in manufacturing including $1 billion to make trains in Queensland again

  • Driving the largest infrastructure program in over a decade of $14.8 billion

  • Growing our regions and supporting key industries including tourism, agriculture and mining

  • Protecting the environment

  • Providing more Queenslanders with access to the skills and training they need for careers

  • Enhancing frontline services

  • Delivering lower debt than New South Wales and Victoria.


​Backing Small Business
The budget did not propose any further tax breaks for small business in addition to those already provided under the government's $7 billion
Unite and Recover: Queensland Economic Recovery Plan.
It acknowledged the investment already made in (amongst other things):

  • Concessional job support loans

  • Payroll tax, land tax, gaming machine and health services levies relief measures

  • Small Business Adaptation Grants

  • Electricity bill relief for small businesses.

The Government has stated it is supporting small business by introducing a procurement target, with 25 per cent of all Government spend to go to small and medium businesses.

Further, more than $81.6 million has been allocated over three years to reduce irrigation water charges for the state’s farmers and fruit and vegetable growing businesses.

An additional $15.5 million to boost the 'Made in Queensland' grants program.  This indicates that further rounds may be made available.  We will keep you up to date with this as further information is released.

Infrastructure
Key infrastructure and spending commitments include:

  • $1 billion to bring train manufacturing back to Queensland

  • $1.6 billion for health infrastructure projects across the state

  • Funding for front line services across the next four years, including:

    • 5,800 additional nurses, 1,500 doctors and 1,700 allied health professionals

    • Four new schools opening in 2022 and 2023, investing almost $1 billion in four years for school upgrades and employing 6,190 new teachers and 1,139 new teacher aides during the next four years

    • Funding for a new fire station at Mount Cotton

    • $36 million for surf lifesaving QLD

    • $55.8 million in infrastructure for the QLD Ambulance Service

    • 2,025 new police, 357 new firefighters, and475 new ambulance operatives

  • $6.3 billion for transport infrastructure in FY 2020-2021, including continued construction of the Cross River Rail Project ($1.5 billion) and ongoing spending to fund major upgrades to the M1 Pacific Motorway and the Bruce Highway

  • $6.3 billion in support in FY 2020–2021 to reduce costs of transport, electricity and water. The support will be delivered through targeted discounts, fee waivers, rebates, and subsidies for individuals, households and businesses.


Regional Action Plans
The Government has developed a shapshot of the key budget initiatives and projects announced for each region. We have included links to these resources, or you can explore them all on
Regional Action Plans map:

Brisbane and Redlands
Central QLD
Darling Downs
Far North QLD
Gold Coast
Ipswich
Logan
Mackay Whitsunday
Outback Queensland
Sunshine Coast
Townsville
Wide Bay