State Budget: What it means for Douglas Shire

The Palaszczuk State Government handed down its 2021-22 budget yesterday with a plan for economic recovery following COVID and a focus on jobs, health, education, and housing.

A Budget deficit of $3.485 billion is expected for 2021-22 and the Treasurer is projecting a return to surplus ($153 million) in 2024-25.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queensland’s health response to COVID-19 and its strong plan for economic recovery sees the state now leading the nation for jobs and growth.

“This new budget update to Queensland’s Economic Recovery Plan shows we’re getting the results Queenslanders deserve, and now we’re ready to invest further in the next phase of our plan,” the Premier said.

Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said the funding for our electorate of Cook announced in the budget was focused on core values.

“This budget underscores our values - health, education, infrastructure, and employment,” she said.

“Key investments in our electorate include $18m for upgrades and refurbishments across 13 schools, $16.593m for the redevelopment of the Thursday Island Hospital and Primary Health Care Centre, $7m to pave and seal the Burke Developmental Road between Normanton and Dimbulah, $12m for the Kennedy Highway between Cairns and Mareeba, over $40m for the Peninsula Development Road, $7.5m in Family and Domestic Violence Services, over $20m for social housing and $15m to promote and support regional tourism.

“This budget is historic in many ways - as a post - COVID budget and its record investment into education and social housing - things that are important to me and important to you.

“The investment of a record $2.9b into social housing demonstrates smart investment that will drive jobs and provide safety and security for Queenslanders.

“I am also happy to see the $300m for the Path to Treaty - this investment represents the Palaszczuk government's commitment to working with Queensland's First Nations peoples to achieve reconciliation.”

Budget highlights for Douglas Shire

Tourism

• $9,900,000 as part of a $33,384,000 commitment towards a 94-kilometre walking/mountain biking trail from Palm Cove to Port Douglas, with public and eco-accommodation facilities.
• $50,000 as part of a $500,000 commitment towards new enclosures for three iconic male Crocodiles, a presentation platform, stadium seating and the ability for guests to dive "Snorkel with the Salties" at the Port Douglas Habitat.
• $1,100,000 commitment towards supporting students to undertake reef place-based learning and help regional tourism operators to enhance and create educational products and experiences.
• $5,000,000 as part of a $15,000,000 commitment for Tourism and Events Queensland to conduct a marketing blitz to encourage travellers to experience Queensland.
• $5,000,000 as part of a $15,000,000 commitment to provide a special one-off funding injection to our Regional Tourism Organisations
• $5,000,000 as part of a $20,000,000 commitment to deliver strategic initiatives and enhance tourism experiences that accelerate economic recovery to position Queensland’s tourism industry for the future.
• $1,500,000 as part of a $3,500,000 commitment towards an initiative allowing recipients to claim up to 50% (up to $200) on the purchase of tourism experiences in Tropical North Queensland, Cairns, Whitsundays, Gold Coast and Brisbane.
• $1,920,000 as part of a $2,200,000 commitment providing free financial counselling provided to micro to medium sized tourism operators, and a 50% rebate on specialist financial, legal and/or human resources advice.
• $900,000 as part of a $1,000,000 commitment towards provision of services to visitors and residents and a hub for training and upskilling residents during off-season to capitalise on the tourism industry.  

Trade

• $1 million in 2021-22 out of a $4 million total spend to support the extension and expansion of pilot program in North Queensland to grow the footprint of the screen industry beyond South East Queensland.
• $3.8 million in 2021-22 out of a $6.8 million total spend for a new film studio for the Far North Queensland Sound Stage.
• $500,000 in 2021-22 out of a $1.8 million total spend to help small business with financial support to overcome a barrier to enter a new international market.
• $750,000 in 2021-22 to help small business with financial support to explore new market export opportunities.
• $4.1 million in 2021-22 out of a $20.6 million total spend to support the continued implementation of International Education and Training Strategy to Advance Queensland 2016 - 2026 (the IET Strategy).
• $25 million in 2021-22 out of a $53 million total spend to continue growth of the PAS and deliver economic, industry, tourism and community benefits by capitalising on the global demand for screen content.
• $500,000 in 2021-22 out of a $10 million total spend for capital works for veterans’ organisations to upgrade their buildings, facilities and equipment and a community grants program to support veterans.
• $3.6 million in 2021-22 out of a $14.9 million total spend to enable continued stakeholder engagement through the department's regional presence and Regional Community Forums.
• $1.3 million in 2021-22 out of a $5 million total spend to support e-commerce and virtual trade facilitation in key markets and assist coordination of demand for additional regular air freighter services. Part of the Queensland's economic recovery plan.
• $2 million in 2021-22 out of a $4 million total spend to expand the Screen Finance Program to invest in Queensland created screen projects, creating career pathways and generating expenditure and jobs.
• $5 million in 2021-22 out of a $10 million total spend to support growth of the Post, Digital and Visual Effects industry by offering one of Australia's most attractive incentives to generate expenditure and jobs.
• $770,000 in 2021-22 out of a $10 million total spend to provide support to Qld veterans and their families for employment assistance, infrastructure funding, legal help, homelessness support and other services.

State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning

• $125,000 of $250,000 to upgrade Port Douglas’ heritage-listed Sugar Wharf to improve the amenity for locals and visitors and boost tourism and event attraction to the already renowned tourist destination. Project works include renovation of original timber decking, upgrading amenities, plumbing and electrical upgrades, installation of new lighting, and installation of new fans to improve ventilation so the Sugar Wharf can be comfortably used in hot summer months.
• $300,000 of $1 million to enrich visitor experiences at the Wujal Wujal Eco Village by installing four safari tents mounted on raised timber decks, building a camp kitchen, upgrading amenities and communal areas and providing sewage dumping facilities for RVs and caravans.

Education

• Maintenance for schools in the Douglas (S) local government area $272,000 of $272,000
• Minor Works for schools in the Douglas (S) local government area $106,000 of $106,000
• Mossman State High School - Improved water supply $900,000 of $900,000
• Mossman State High School - School Infrastructure Enhancement Program $400,000 of $400,000

Health

• $1,350,000 To redevelop the Cairns Ambulance Station and Operations Centre to support the delivery of pre-hospital ambulance responses services, worth $10,415,011.
• $46,076,570 For construction projects to improve facilities at the Cairns Hospital site, including a new Mental Health Unit and expansion of the Emergency Department, worth $133,887,345.
• $1,370,012 For construction projects to improve facilities at the Mossman Hospital site, worth $10,105,000.

Roads

• Far North District, Road Safety Program (Tranche 2), funding commitment $46,650,000
• Maintenance, repair and replacement of safety treatments, various locations $420,000
• Safety and critical maintenance upgrades program, planning $200,000
• Captain Cook Highway (Cairns - Mossman), Parker Creek, upgrade culvert $1,282,047
• Captain Cook Highway (Cairns - Mossman), remediate batter slopes $100,000
• Mossman - Daintree Road and Bamboo Creek Road, improve intersection $515,995
• Newell Beach, upgrade boat launching facility $1,800,000
• Cooya Beach Road (Stage 2), Lou Prince Drive to Bougainvillea Street, design shared path $12,500
• Cooya Beach to Mossman (Stage 2), Junction Bridge to Melaleuca Drive, construct shared path $625,000
• Finlayvale Road (Finlayvale), Anichs Bridge, replace bridge $440,000
• Port Douglas Road, Captain Cook Highway to Lakeland Avenue, design shared path $15,000
• Warner Road (Cassowary), Warners Bridge, replace bridge $500,000
• Euluma Creek Road, rehabilitate and widen $460,000
• Euluma Creek Road, widen and seal $113,538

Justice, Women and Domestic and Family Violence

• $959,000 in 2021-22 out of a $4.4 million total spend over four years for DFV support services.
• $7.5 million in 2021-22 out of a $30 million total spend to provide for the continuation of funding to enable domestic, family and sexual violence services to respond to demand associated with the impacts of COVID-19.
• $2.7 million in 2021-22 to continue important initiatives providing specialist support to women in contact with the criminal justice and custodial systems.
• $1.6 million in 2021-22 to continue a wide ranging review of women's experiences in the criminal justice system being conducted by the Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce

Police and Corrective Services

• $4 million in 2021-22 out of a $6.3 million total spend to continue the body worn camera program to provide more effective and efficient policing services to the people of Queensland.
• $1 million in 2021-22 out of a $4.2 million total spend to expand and continue the Roadside Drug Testing Program.
• $469,384 in 2021-22 to continue GPS monitoring of adult defendants released on bail.
• $4.6 million in 2021-22 out of a $5.9 million total spend for measures targeting serious recidivist youth offenders. Part of the Youth Justice Strategy and Five Point Plan

Fisheries

• $14.5 million in 2021-22 out of a $82.8 million total spend to continue the fisheries reform process. Part of the Queensland Sustainable Fisheries Strategy 2017-2027.
• $7.9 million in 2021-22 out of a $64 million total spend to support research, development and extension on land management practices that improve Reef water quality as well as productivity.

Communities and Housing, Digital Economy and Arts

• The Government is providing $620,000 in 2021-22 as part of a $2.48 million commitment over four years to provide Indigenous artists access to space, training, education and enterprise development.
• The Government is providing $200,000 in 2021-22 to provide Indigenous communities in regional and remote areas of Queensland access to arts and cultural services.
• The Government is providing $58,850 in 2021-22 to Douglas Shire Council through Public Library Grants to supply library resources to public libraries.
• The Government is providing $11,000 in 2021-22 to Douglas Shire Council through First Five Forever Grants to supply library resources to public libraries.

Regional Development and Manufacturing

• Advanced Manufacturing Roadmap and 10-Year Action Plan - $1.2 million as part of a $7.8 million commitment to promote the growth of manufacturing in Queensland.
• Building our Regions - $10 million as part of a $70 million commitment for delivery of Building our Regions (Round 6) for water and sewerage infrastructure projects in regional Queensland.
• Made in Queensland - $8.8 million as part of a $57.5 million commitment to support small to medium manufacturing enterprises to become more internationally competitive and adopt innovative processes and technologies
• Resources
• $7,705,000 to improve the quality of water flowing into the Great Barrier Reef.

Environment

• $18,750 in 2021-22 out of a $812,372 total spend for the transport of collected comingled recycling from Douglas Shire to South East Queensland for recycling. Part of the Regional Recycling Transport Assistance Package.
• $21,010 in 2021-22 out of a $84,042 total spend to assist the Douglas Shire Council deliver programs to address and prevent illegal dumping. Part of the Local Government Illegal Dumping Partnerships Program.
• $28,000 as part of a $191,800 commitment for eligible grant projects addressing climate change, built heritage and nature conservation. Part of the Community Sustainability Action Grants.
• $20,000 as part of a $100,000 commitment for eligible grant projects addressing climate change, built heritage and nature conservation. Part of the Community Sustainability Action Grants.
• $64,000 in 2021-22 as part of a $370,778 total commitment over 1.5 years to undertake a 12-month FOGO kerbside collection trial.
• $12,139 as part of a $78,139 commitment for eligible grant projects addressing climate change, built heritage and nature conservation. Part of the Community Sustainability Action Grants.
• $10,000 as part of a $62,000 commitment for eligible grant projects addressing climate change, built heritage and nature conservation. Part of the Community Sustainability Action Grants.
• $1,750 as part of a $35,005 commitment for eligible grant projects addressing climate change, built heritage and nature conservation. 

Children and Youth Justice

• $182.7 million in 2021-22 out of a $549.1 million total spend from 2019-20 over four years to continue the family support and child protection reforms through Supporting Families Changing Futures.
• $2.4 million in 2021-22 out of a $12 million total spend over five years and $2.4 million per annum ongoing to extend the foster and kinship carer allowance to support the change in eligibility as a result of the introduction of the Prep year in Queensland, to ensure young people past the age of 18 can remain with their carers while completing high school.
• $52.6 million in 2021-22 out of a $113.5 million total spend including $15.8m for new measures that focus squarely on serious, recidivist youth offenders and $36.8m to continue existing programs showing positive results. Funding of $2m per annum ongoing from 2025-26 will also be provided to continue the Integrated Case management program to reduce offending and reoffending among high-risk recidivist offenders.
• $11.1 million in 2021-22 out of a $76.6 million total spend over four years and $22.9m p/a ongoing for 154 additional frontline child safety workers to boost services for Queensland's most vulnerable children and families.