Big-ticket items on wishlist

THE Far North will have its eyes peeled on today’s federal budget for roads, jobs and major infrastructure spending to break the COVID shackles.

A major cash splash to bust congestion on the Cairns Western Arterial Rd between Smithfield and Caravonica, as revealed in Monday’s Cairns Post, is expected to be officially announced — with motorists taking a collective sigh of relief and political opponents demanding more detail.

Aged care and women’s health are expected to be big winners

QUEENSLAND is getting less money per person in new spending on roads and rail in today’s federal budget than any other state, analysis of the infrastructure announcements reveal.

While Queensland is receiving $1.6bn in new infrastructure, its 5.18 million population sees it work out at $308 per person.

This is compared to $367 per person for NSW and $449 per person in Victoria, with the southern states getting $3bn in new roads and rail funding each.

Queensland Labor Senator Murray Watt said the Sunshine State was copping the wooden spoon in budget spending, but Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said he received a thank you message from his state Labor counterpart after the announcement.

The Morrison government announced on Monday $1.6bn in new road and rail infrastructure for Queensland, targeted at the regions rather than Brisbane and expected to create 2800 jobs.

Senator Watt said it looked like the Morrison government was taking the state for granted after its big 2019 election win.

“It’s a massive blow for Queensland to cop the infrastructure wooden spoon, despite being Australia’s most decentralised state,” he said.

Mr McCormack said the road spending would secure the state’s economic recovery.

“(Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister) Mark Bailey certainly sent me a text last night and was very pleased for the heads up for the infrastructure rollout that we’re doing,” Mr McCormack said.

“We’re investing in the infrastructure that indeed those jurisdictions have prioritised and we’re delivering.”

State Treasurer Cameron Dick had accused the federal government of a “rotten ripoff” for Queenslanders on the weekend.

“Why don’t we get the same as other states when our population is going up by 30,000 (people) – the equivalent of Gladstone?” he said.