2024 Brisbane council elections: What every party promised voters and how much they’ll spend

Each party has released how much they would spend and what they would cut from Brisbane’s council budget if elected to power this Saturday.

Brisbane Labor has released an independent policy audit of its election campaign promises showcasing how the party would spend the council budget if elected this weekend.

The audit by Hall Chadwick, released publicly on Wednesday night, reveals a Labor-led Brisbane City Council budget would see a 5.3 per cent savings in capital expenditure with an increase of 1.6 per cent in expenses.

Labor has pledged a $6.4bn spend over four years if elected to power on Saturday and says it would save nearly $284m over the same period.

Major savings would come from delaying $90m from the Gabba redevelopment, scrapping the $141m Victoria Park project, halting future funding for the Brisbane Metro project and $16m in savings from green waste recycling as part of its organic green bin collection proposal.

The costings also outline a $25m state funding grant for the proposed green bin service and $330m to be spent on halving bus fares.

Labor’s Brisbane City council mayoral hopeful Tracey Price. Picture: John Gass

Labor plans to divert $750,000 from an Olympic Games development budget to women's and girls sporting facilities over four years and will convert four full-time employees from council’s media and communications department to public space liaison officers.

A Labor spokeswoman said all policies had been costed on the assumption that rates will not increase above CPI over the next four years.

Brisbane LNP Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner. Picture: John Gass

“This is a positive plan for delivery all within the forward budget envelope,” she said.

“It delivers cost of living relief, more funding for homelessness support and addresses the critical issues of traffic congestion, improving our public transport and active travel and the need for drainage maintenance and flood mitigation.

“Tracey’s policies will deliver for all of Brisbane, not just a few inner city suburbs, restoring jobs and services, including maintaining weekly bin collections.

“This is a sound and sensible set of commitments that are fully costed.”

Meanwhile, the LNP on Monday provided its own audit report outlining its $283 million worth of election promises and current budget commitments including $125m on a new Brisbane Metro North bus depot in Fitzgibbon and $25 million towards Inner City Bypass upgrades.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has repeatedly voiced concerns over Labor and the Greens overpromising during the election, claiming their budget changes were too expensive and would eventually come out of the pockets of ratepayers.

“I’m really concerned Labor and the Greens are locked in some kind of spending arms race just to try and grab the attention of Brisbane residents,” he said.

Greens candidate Jonathan Sriranganathan. Picture, John Gass

“A detailed analysis of the policies announced by the Greens and Labor during the election has revealed they have committed to a combined $3.5 billion in extra spending over the next term.

“The massive spending splurge by the Greens and Labor will drive up the rates and rents of every Brisbane resident.”

Greens’ mayoral candidate Jonathan Sriranganathan confirmed his party would not be issuing an official audit report of election promises, however, the party provided The Courier-Mail with its own calculations outlining where it plans to slash existing funding in order to fulfil its $203 million proposed spend.

The Greens say they would save $160 million from cutting road and intersection widening projects, with the estimated $203 million expenditure to be paid for through increasing developer infrastructure charges.

LNP:

$125m on Brisbane Metro North bus depot in Fitzgibbon

$25m towards Inner City Bypass upgrades

$2m spend to bring back $2 council pool entry over summer

(plus existing budget spend of $4 billion including $80m cost of living relief package)

LABOR:

$30m on Banyo Open Level Crossing upgrade

$10m on Northern Transit Way on Gympie Rd

$15m on safety screens across Brisbane’s bus fleet

$12m on Norman Park Ferry

$2m on North Brisbane bikeway

$58m on mobility infrastructure

$330m on half price bus fares

$25m on footpath extensions and upgrades

$10m on street CCTV and lights

$12m on homelessness services and programs

$37.8m on drainage

$4.5m on drainage infrastructure

$15m on flood buy back

$2m on mosquito spraying

Total spend over four years:

Transport = $1bn

Infrastructure = $2.1bn

Clean, Green and Sustainable City = $1.1bn

Future Brisbane = $433m

Lifestyle and Community Services = $947m

City Standards, Community Health and Safety = $2.2bn

Economic Development = $220m

City Governance = $1.3bn

Total = $6.4bn

GREENS:

$40m on Eagle Farm Racecourse site acquisition

$38.8m on 15 additional bus routes and upgrades to 10 existing routes

$13.5m on free public transport for under-18s

$80m on free public transport for all off-peak travellers

$11.2m on three-month free public transport rollout

$2.5m on tram study

$90m on bikeways

$37.5m on crossing upgrades

$125m on footpath upgrades

$12.5m on traffic calming projects

$100m on flood buybacks

$13m on supporting First Nations policy priorities

$13m on First Nations cultural centre at Musgrave Park + operations cost

$10.7m on making pool entry free for all council owned pools

$96m on building five new swimming pools

$520,000 on natural swimming pool study

$520,000 on cleaning the Brisbane River

$520,000 on Norman Creek regeneration

$520,000 on erosion controls

$6m on pokies ban plan for local live music investment

$5m on pokies ban plan for rebuilding/renovating local clubs

$12.5m Albert St green space pedestrian project and shade on Victoria Bridge