A record $23.6 billion investment in health is the centrepiece of Queensland’s state budget for this year, which focuses on delivering good jobs and better services for Queenslanders while protecting the state’s lifestyle.
Queensland’s Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the state budget will continue to put the health of Queenslanders first.
“Our strong pandemic health and economic response are now delivering major returns for Queenslanders,” the Premier said.
“With this year’s state budget, we’re making record investments in health, education, jobs, renewables, and community services like police and fire and emergency.”
The budget is said to include $23.6 billion for healthcare for this financial year, with an increase of $1.16 billion in health’s operating budget to help meet growing demands on the system. This will create thousands of new jobs for frontline staff as part of the Queensland Government’s commitment to hiring an additional 9450 health workers over the four-year term.
“This budget will also invest in new schools, improved roads and more employment opportunities as we enter our golden decade on track towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” the Premier said.
“The results are obvious: by prioritising the health of Queenslanders, our state is now firmly positioned on a path towards long-term prosperity and success.”
Under the 2022/23 budget, the Queensland Government’s record health investment in 2022-23 will fund:
- Approximately 2200 additional overnight beds to expand health system capacity
- New hospitals in Bundaberg, Toowoomba and Coomera
- A new Queensland Cancer Centre
- Expansions to hospitals in Cairns, Townsville, Robina, Mackay, Redcliffe, Ipswich and Hervey Bay
- Expansions at Princess Alexandra, QEII and The Prince Charles hospitals
- A further expansion of Logan Hospital
Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said the state’s pandemic response continues to drive the nation’s economic recovery.
“With this budget, we’re protecting old jobs and working to create new ones while investing in the services Queenslanders need and the way of life we all love,” Minister Dick said.
“Our record health budget will provide access to the best possible healthcare, no matter where you live.”
The Queensland Government plans to invest $943.5 million in the Building Rural and Remote Healthcare program for the next seven years, replacing ageing health infrastructure and staff accommodation in rural and remote areas of the state.
Aside from healthcare, the Queensland Government has also committed a $59.1 billion investment toward infrastructure and $19.6 billion toward statewide education and job training.
Minister Dick said the government was continuing to take significant action to help Queenslanders facing housing challenges.
“The 2022-23 State Budget will allocate $200 million to build the essential infrastructure needed to unlock housing supply, funding the delivery of water and sewer infrastructure to create more residential lots in new communities,” he said.
“This investment supports the ongoing delivery of our $1.9 billion Queensland Housing and Homelessness Action Plan 2021-2025 announced last year, which will result in the construction of 7400 new dwellings across our state.”
Other key investments in the 2022-23 Queensland Budget include:
- $262.5 million to support the growth, better management and sustainability of the state’s protected areas
- $363 million to respond to the recommendations of the Queensland Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce in Hear her voice – Report One
- $29.7 billion for road and transport infrastructure
- $324 million to accelerate climate action and resource recovery initiatives
- More than $300 million for the Toowoomba to Warwick pipeline and other water infrastructure
- $608 million for Queensland agriculture, biosecurity, fisheries and forestry
- $150 million for the 10-year Queensland Trade Strategy
- The $100 million, four-year Go for Gold Fund for new and upgraded sports infrastructure for schools across the state
- $50 million to continue manufacturing grants programs across the state
Minister Dick said the state’s economic growth is expected to strengthen to three per cent in 2021-22, followed by ongoing solid growth across the forward estimates.
“The surplus for 2021-22 is expected to be $1.91 billion, an improvement of $5.4 billion compared to the $3.48 billion deficit forecast this time last year,” he said.
“What these figures and others show is that Queensland is on the right track, and that gives us the confidence to make these substantial investments in our future.”
Source: Queensland Government Media Release. Content has been edited for style and length,
Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.
