Keith Pitt, Tom Smith on the federal budget in Hinkler

Days after the federal budget highlights were revealed, new details have been released about a critical addition to local health services.

A retrieval doctor will join the region’s rescue helicopter team, Hinkler MP Keith Pitt announced on Friday.

Mr Pitt made the surprise additional announcement at the RACQ Lifeflight Rescue base at Bundaberg Airport on Friday morning were he committed $1.1 million to the cause.

The funding will be spent over three years to have a retrieval doctor on board, during daytime hours, to enhance the level of critical care required across the region.

Federal Regional Health Minister The Hon Dr David Gillespie said in a statement generous donations from the community and funding from Federal Government had helped to bring a full-time doctor to the base.

“This welcome commitment from the Morrison Government, added to the existing funding commitments from our amazing community, will enable a Critical Care doctor to service the region seven days a week, during daytime hours,” said LifeFlight Chief Medical Officer Dr Allan MacKillop said in the same statement

“RACQ LifeFlight Rescue currently provides a world-class aeromedical service for people in need across the Wide Bay and Burnett, as supported by Queensland Health.

“But adding a doctor to the team will take the service to even greater heights.”

The Critical Care doctor will start working at the base from September.

It comes after a federal budget pitched to drive the economy was handed down on Tuesday.

Mr Pitt issued a statement following Tuesday night’s federal budget highlighting the allocation of $7.7 million to the Port of Bundaberg infrastructure as part of the Hinkler Regional Deal, and the $600 million for Paradise Dam.

He also applauded the $500 million for the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, which delivered the Urangan Community Centre upgrade, the reduction in the fuel excise, $811m to fix mobile blackspots in the regions and a $5000 payment to support new apprentices and trainees.

On the struggle of many small businesses, Mr Pitt said the State Government mandates were restricting them from “fully functioning”.

Bundaberg State MP Tom Smith said the biggest impact to businesses in the region had been Covid, not the mandates.

“The biggest impact to Bundaberg businesses over the Christmas and into this new year has been the level of Covid-19 cases in our community …” he said.

“To say that businesses are only struggling because of the mandate simply is not true.”

On the housing crisis, particularly for those struggling to find a rental and facing homelessness, Mr Pitt accepted it was a challenge, but said the Federal Government provided millions of dollars to the State Government, which was being used.

“We’ve got some 300,000 Australians who are in the midst of either moving in, building or having built in the future their own home as part of the support packages the Commonwealth has provided,” Mr Pitt said.

“Social housing in particular that is a State responsibility,” he said.

“We provide hundreds of millions of dollars to the Queensland Labor Government, we provide billions through the rental assistance scheme, and social services, all of which I think are being utilised.

“I recognise this is a challenge, but our regions are growing and they’re growing quickly and that’s why we’ve got such a large investment in regional Australia right across the country.”

Mr Smith said the State Government had committed almost $2 billion to social and affordable housing in its last budget.

“At our last budget the State Government committed close to $2 billion for social and affordable housing. Covid-19 has created a greater need to support the development of private dwellings and housing assistance,” he said.

Mr Pitt dismissed the notion that Hinkler and the Wide Bay were ignored because they were safe National Party seats, citing the Paradise Dam investment.

“Well firstly that proposition to be frank is complete nonsense,” he said.

“We’ve got $600 million towards the Paradise Dam that is a big piece of infrastructure, we are delivering the budget that Australia needs right now.

“And in uncertain times, where we know the cost of living is such a big issue, we’ve made significant investments which are temporary but responsible, and we’ll continue to do just that.”

The budget has committed $600 million to restore Paradise Dam.

Mr Pitt said Paradise Dam was a “critical piece of infrastructure” and important for the region.

A $1.2 billion repair of a “Labor failure” was definitely money that could have been used elsewhere, he said.

“It’s a critical piece of infrastructure, water security is so important for our region and it gives confidence to the agriculture sector so that they can continue to grow so that investment has to be made.”

Mr Smith said he was glad the total amount of funding could be raised for the dam.

“I’m glad after working with our Bundaberg community and working with our growers that together we were able to achieve $1.2 billion for Paradise Dam, he said.

“Is is the Palaszczuk Government that has given the commitment to support our growers now and into the future.”

Mr Smith noted it was disappointing the budget did not include flood mitigation.

“It is disappointing that the Federal Government have again turned their back on Queensland when it comes to flood mitigation,” he said.

“The Federal Government has failed to deliver on the state’s number one flood mitigation project which happens to be in Bundaberg.”