QLD Budget 2022-23: List of priorities revealed for Mackay, Whitsundays

With booming resource royalties fattening government coffers, we can expect a ‘big health budget’ to ease the strain after the pandemic pain. But regional leaders are calling for more.

Regional leaders are calling on the state government to return more wealth to the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsundays region in next week’s budget as coal, beef and sugar prices deliver record returns to government coffers.

Mayor Greg Williamson estimates the resources boom might have doubled royalty payments to the government and he wants to see the contribution reciprocated.

“They were budgeting on $6bn, the estimates are that they will get $12bn in royalties alone,” he said.

“And if they don’t apply some serious focus to the region that is actually generating the most of that, I will be very disappointed.

“It is the focus that needs to come back on this area.”

Mr Williamson said elevated investment in social infrastructure was desperately needed.

“The normal economy, the generating economy is going gangbusters, but it is the social economy now that actually needs serious attention in our region,” he said.

“You cannot get a crisis accommodation home or a bed in Mackay any night of the week because we are all full.

“We need to provide crisis accommodation housing.”

He also listed more health and road expenditure as some of the key investments he was looking for in health spending.

“There is still 90km of the Peak Downs Highway from Coppabella to Moranbah turn-off that does not even have a passing lane and this is a highway that carries an enormous amount of the state’s wealth,” he said.

Whitsunday MP Amanda Camm also listed greater road, health and social infrastructure funding as core issues she was looking for in the budget.

“We’ve got a major problem when it comes to housing,” she said.

Whitsunday MP Amanda Camm says she wants to see increased expenditure on the region’s roads in the upcoming state budget. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“The government has spoken a lot about big numbers, but we have yet to see those numbers translate to real properties on the ground.”

She said she agreed with Mr Williamson’s critique around a perceived inequity in funding for the regions and added she hoped the budget would go some way to addressing this concern.

“Never before have we seen beef prices, sugar prices, aquaculture, horticulture and our minerals and coal, all doing very well,” she said.

“And so that brings greater revenue in things like stamp duty, payroll tax, in export taxes to the state government.

“So their revenue and their coffers have been fattened up.

“It’s about where they invest that money.

“And you just have to drive some of our state roads, we’re not seeing that money translate back here.

“But I know, through my frustration, there will definitely be new cycle paths and footbridges in Brisbane.”

Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert refutes this argument.

“When you look at the spend per capita, how much is spent per person, across regional Queensland it is much higher than what it is in the southeast corner,” she said.

“If that perception is there it is because there are a lot more people in the southeast corner.

“It always looks greener across the fence, it doesn’t matter where you live. When I am in Brisbane, they always talk about,’ why is there so much money going to the regions?’”.

Ms Gilbert said Mackay residents could expect a “big health budget”.

“The premier has said all along and the treasurer that it’s going to be a big health budget,” she said.

“Because we have been through the pandemic and there are a lot of pressures on the health system and as a government we recognise that.”

She also said the budget would allocate money to ease the housing crisis crippling Mackay.

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick with Minister Resources Scott Stewart (left) and Mackay Regional Council mayor Greg Williamson (right) at the Mackay Resources Centre of Excellence funding announcement. Picture: Max O'Driscoll

“We have put more money into our public housing. We’ve had the biggest injection of funds since the Second World War and we are going to continue that,” she said.

Ms Gilbert would not reveal exact figures, but early budget sneak peeks show Mackay pocketing some long sought-for infrastructure spends.

The Resources Centre of Excellence will receive $5.7m to build out its stage 2 expansion plans and the Port of Mackay will receive $4m to upgrade Wharf Five.

Ms Gilbert added some big ticket spends on Mackay schools could be on the way.

“I am hoping there may be some big ticket items for education coming to Mackay as well,” she said.

“To make sure the resources we’ve got here for our students are top-quality.”

Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker has added to the call for “appropriate reinvestment” in the region given the boom in resource royalties.

“With the billions in royalties delivered off the back of our region’s industry operators and workforce, we are determined to see significant investment in critical infrastructure and funding to help future proof our communities,” she said.

“The government has long been aware of our advocacy for the promised $38m Moranbah Hospital upgrade to support health services across Isaac and $3m needed to complete the $18m Phillips Creek Bridge replacement.

“In addition to these critical projects we would welcome Queensland government investment to assist in addressing the growing housing issue across Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday regions.”

Ms Baker said funding for these projects would help support the very industry and workforce that delivered billions to the state coffers.

“As mayor of Queensland’s largest resource region, our community would struggle to reconcile if we did not receive reasonable budget commitments from this windfall.”