Queensland budget: Warrego MP Ann Leahy calls for more state infrastructure spending

The state government’s budget has been reprimanded by member for Warrego Ann Leahy, claiming Labor has increased every Queenslanders’ tax burden after failing to increase infrastructure spending.

SMOKE AND MIRRORS: Warrego MP Ann Leahy said Queensland’s infrastructure spending was too low at 12 per cent compared to nearly 25 per cent in New South Wales and Victoria. Picture: Tim Marsden

The state government’s 2021 budget has been labelled as “smoke and mirrors” by member for Warrego Ann Leahy, citing a clear lack in infrastructure spending in Queensland.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and treasurer Cameron Dick announced Queensland would be in a surprise surplus, decreasing this year’s deficit due to a $12b recovery to Queensland’s finances.

Ms Leahy said however that infrastructure spending was down even with revenue rising, and Queenslanders wanted to know where the money was going in this “smoke and mirrors” budget.

“Queensland’s infrastructure spending is already way too low at 12 per cent compared to nearly 25 per cent in New South Wales and Victoria,” Ms Leahy said.

“This government’s had the last six years to create an infrastructure program to cater for Queensland’s growing population and they’ve failed to deliver.

“The tax burden per person has increased a whopping 83 per cent to $3 328 compared with last year.”

Ms Leahy said this would be recouped through land tax, stamp duty, land rental creases, motor vehicle registration, and other duties and taxes.

Several projects in the Warrego electorate have been allocated funding under this year’s state budget. Picture: Contributed

“Our agricultural and resources industries are doing the heavy lifting when it comes to providing revenue, and I will continue to fight to ensure our fair share is returned to our wealth producing region.”

She said when it comes to roads, half of the projects in south west Queensland were funded on the 80/20 split with the federal government providing the lion’s share for those projects.

“The road expenditure figures are enhanced significantly by the Commonwealths contribution to the total funding,” Ms Leahy said.

“The commonwealth government are doing a lot of the heavy lifting for regional road funding, whilst the state Labor government has grown their maintenance backlog on the state controlled network toward $6 billion,” Ms Leahy said.

Several projects were successful in funding under the state government’s budget:

• Tara Shire State College $252,000 for new skills development and training facilities
• Dalby State High School $434,000 for upgrade of skills development and training facilities
• Roma State College $252,000 for upgrade of skills development and training facilities
• St George State High School $565,000 for upgrade of skills development and training facilities
• St George State High School $612,000 for school halls program
• Kogan North Gas Fields development $24.556 million
• $8.1 million to address infrastructure issues the St George, Morven and Charleville Hospitals
• Roma Hospital Redevelopment $466 000 for outpatient, and telehealth services
• Dalby Police Station upgrades $3.41 million
• Cunnamulla Police Station replacement $200,000
• The Bigger Big Rig and Tree Walk in Roma $2.8 million
• Eromanga Natural History Museum $800,000
• Paroo Civic, Community and Enterprise Centre Project $3.7 million
• Cunnamulla Hospital $642,651 for decommissioning of the operating theatre and provision of single ward rooms