Curtis does Debbie
Treasurer’s rescue package for north
THE strong focus of the State Budget is about providing a rescue package for victims from Cyclone Debbie, which Labor hopes will save it from an electoral disaster in north Queensland.
Treasurer Curtis Pitt yesterday admitted his Budget was framed “in the wake of a natural disaster”.
The economy was poised to strengthen three per cent in 2018-19 and would have been higher except for Cyclone Debbie, taking a $2 billion bite this financial year and next. The coal, sugar, cattle and tourism industries were hurting, the Treasurer argued.
The Budget would deliver a $146 million surplus but the Government maintained that could be achieved without cutting back on essential services.
“It would be irresponsible – not just socially but economically – to slash funding for reconstruction and frontline services every time a natural disaster impacts on revenue,” the Treasurer said.
This was essentially the Government’s pitch to the voter living in those marginal northern seats with the election due before Christmas.
When the Treasurer spoke about “infrastructure across Queensland”, the first project he addressed was a $2.8 billion commitment to Cross River Rail. The upgrade of rail facilities on the Brisbane city end is critical for Coast commuters who faced blowout trips to work. But in the rest of his speech, Mr Pitt talked up the programs in the State’s north and west.
Almost $5 billion would be spent on infrastructure across regional Queensland including “Mackay, Outback, Far North Queensland, Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Darling Downs and Townville that will directly support 14,500 jobs”.
“For transport and roads, the capital program includes over $3.8 billion, including construction of the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing and widening of the Gateway North to six lanes.
“For Townsville, we are setting aside $225 million over four years to address long-term water security.”
The Port of Townsville would receive $75 million and $120 million was committed for the Cairns Shipping Development Project to help cruise shipping and tourism. About $140 million would go to the new Townsville Stadium.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk took a shot at Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for not helping finance the Cross River Rail, but was asked whether Labor had spent enough to buy the next election. She replied:“This is a jobs for Queensland Budget, pure and simple.”
THIS IS A JOBS FOR QUEENSLAND BUDGET, PURE AND SIMPLE. PREMIER ANNASTACIA PALASZCZUK