Last minute Budget vows

AT long last the Palaszczuk government is delivering for the Far North.

Cynics would suggest that it was only when the lack of promises were highlighted by the Cairns Post after hundreds of millions were pledged for Townsville last week that suddenly money became available for the tropical north.

First came an announcement on Friday last week of $120 million for long awaited dredging of the city’s shipping channel.

Today comes a commitment for an urgently needed new mental health unit at Cairns Hospital, initially $3 million in the new financial year for the $70 million project.

Yesterday $54 million was pledged for 137 new social houses in the Cairns region over the next five years.

After the Budget comes down today it is expected that cash to extend the Cairns Convention Centre will be outlined.

The government was cagey yesterday. All Treasurer Curtis Pitt said was: “I’ll be announcing further major infrastructure spending for Cairns in today’s Budget speech.”

As well it could include money for the Smithfield bypass to take pressure off the Kennedy and Cook highways junction.

His office says the Far North can expect $1.1 billion in health, $819.2 million in capital works and nearly $50 million in education.

This is no doubt an election Budget and it will be interesting to hear the opposition’s response.

But why the government threw significant monies at Townsville last week and left Cairns hanging and frustrated was bizarre strategy.

We look forward to more Budget announcements this afternoon. Nick Dalton nick.dalton@news.com.au