State Budget: No surprises, but commitments backed by millions of dollars

ADVANCE Cairns has welcomed funding across infrastructure, business and training detailed in the 2023-24 Queensland Budget this week.

Chief executive officer Jacinta Reddan said the funding announcements would benefit business and industry with confirmation of funding for projects and infrastructure critical for the region’s future economic growth and prosperity, particularly for the diversification of the economy.

Ms Reddan said the budget did not contain any surprises, but she welcomed the priority given to expansion of the TAFE Great Barrier Reef International Marine College.

Other budget specific items for the Far North included:

• A further $30 million, including $5.6m this financial year, for the Cairns Marine Precinct, bringing the total project funds to $360 million

• Continued investment of $37m in infrastructure and facilities for the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service

• $30.9m for the highway duplication of the Cairns Western Arterial Road between Redlynch and the Captain Cook Highway.

“It is good to see $16m flow immediately across the next two years to provide much-needed maritime workforce training in the defence and commercial sectors,” Ms Reddan said.

“This expansion will include the construction of a new workshop, additional classrooms, staff facilities and a boat shed.

“With workforce training such a critical issue, it will be interest- ing to see if the region stands to benefit from the establishment of a Skilled Workforce Attraction office which was assigned $4.4m over four years.”

Ms Reddan said the State Budget also confirmed its commitment to match Federal Government funding for the common user facility at the Cairns Marine Precinct, with a further $30 million announced on Tuesday, bringing the total project funds to $360 million.

“These investments will create local jobs and strengthen Cairns as a leading maritime maintenance, repair and overhaul destination in the region,” she said.

“We are keen to see more detail on what the first tranche of the funding in $5.6m in this budget will be spent on,” Ms Reddan said.

She said the continued investment in infrastructure and facilities for the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service was welcomed, including previously announced funding for a surgical centre, construction of a new mental health unit, expansion of the emergency department and an additional endoscopy room as well as the $250m major hospital expansion.

“We welcome continued investment in our local health infrastructure and facilities and continue to push for investment towards the Cairns University Hospital.”

Ms Reddan said Advance Cairns was pleased with the extension of the regional business payroll tax discount by seven years to 2030 at a cost of $505m.

“We are also pleased to focus on addressing the housing crisis and will be keen to see what impact this will have on the region.”

Real Estate Institute of Queensland disappointed with budget - P27 Advance Cairns chief executive officer Jacinta Reddan with the budget papers outside Queensland Parliament. Picture: Supplied