Qld election 2020: Parties’ mega promises – and when they’ll start
Tens of billions of dollars have been splashed around by both major parties promising massive projects in their election pitches. We’ve examined the fine print.
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The Courier-Mail has broken down which projects that have been pledged by the major parties will be completed within the next 12 months, within the first four-year term, and which are longer-term.
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LABOR
Promises to be completed within the next 12 months
– Voluntary Assisted Dying
After asking the Queensland Law Reform Commission earlier this year to draft legislation by March 2021, Annastacia Palaszczuk brought the contentious subject back into the campaign this month when she announced a Labor Government would introduce laws by February next year.
When: Introduce legislation by February, 2021
Promises to be completed within the four-year term
– Hire 6190 teachers, 1139 teachers aides
Queensland is facing a looming teaching shortage. Labor earlier this year launched a recruitment campaign.
When: Over four years
Cost: $2.2 billion
– Hire 9475 frontline health staff including 5800 nurses and midwives, 1500 doctors, 1700 allied health professionals 475 paramedics
Labor has run a scare campaign during this election, claiming the LNP would sack frontline staff.
When: Over four years
Cost: Unknown
Labor costings reveal $3.7bn in election promises to be funded entirely in borrowings
LNP to increase Labor’s public sector hiring freeze, slash $750 million in waste
– Modernise state schools
$433 million for new classrooms and admin buildings, $258 million for multipurpose halls and performing arts centres, $180 million for capital projects at Catholic and Independent schools, $110 million for infrastructure upgrades, $50 million for shovel-ready projects like playgrounds, $20 million planning for new schools
When: Over four years
Cost: $1 billion
– Train manufacturing works
The commitment includes $600 million to build 20 new Queensland trains, as well as $1 million to develop a business case to build replacement carriages for long haul services.
$300 million of the announcement is existing funding to continue maintaining and refurbishing the current Queensland Rail fleet.
When: Over four years
Cost: $1 billion
– Transport and Infrastructure Development Scheme
The scheme supports infrastructure projects through a 50:50 split between state and local governments.
When: Over four years
Cost: $280 million
– No new taxes
Labor has committed to no new or increased taxes.
When: Over four years
– No asset sales
Labor has committed to not selling or leasing assets owned by Queensland taxpayers.
When: Over four years
Promises to be completed beyond the four-year term
– Works for Queensland
A program which supports regional councils undertake maintenance and minor infrastructure projects which creates jobs.
When: Over six years
Cost: $600 million
– M1 upgrade between Daisy Hill and Logan
Slash travel times for motorists.
When: Start in 2024
Cost: $500 million
– “Second Bruce” and other improvements
The “Second Bruce” would see existing roads upgraded between Charters Towers in north Queensland and Mungindi in the south of the state, to divert big trucks and freight off the main arterial coastal road. 80 per cent of the cash required would need to come from the Federal Government.
When: Construction to start 2021 on priority sections
Cost: $300 million
– Second M1
Labor announced in September it would build the 16km stage one of the Coomera Connector – otherwise known as the “second M1” – which stretches between Nerang and Coomera.
When: Construction to start within 12 months
Cost: $755 million
LNP
Promises to be completed within the next 12 months
– Hand down a budget
The LNP slammed the Palaszczuk Government for cancelling its budget amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Labor, which delivered a COVID-19 Fiscal and Economic Review in September, has since committed to handing down a budget in the week of November 30 should it be re-elected.
When: Within 100 days of being elected
– $300 rego rebate for all car owners
This would put money in the pockets of more than 3.8 million Queenslanders for not being able to use their cars as regularly during the COVID-19 lockdown and as border restrictions limited travel options. There would be no limit on how many cars a person could claim the rebate for and it would include commercial vehicles, such as small business owners and tradies.
When: By December 31, this year
Cost: $1.15 billion
– Night curfew to crackdown on youth crime in Townsville and Cairns
8pm curfew for kids aged 14 and younger. For youths aged 15 to 17, it would be 10pm. 6-month trial. Police would use their discretion. Parents would also cop a $250 fine if their child is found to have breached the curfew without a reasonable excuse.
When: Within the first 12 months.
Promises to be completed within the four-year term
– Hire 3350 teachers and 760 teacher aides
Queensland is facing a looming teaching shortage.
When: Over four years
Cost: $1.05 billion to hire
– Cut electricity bills for manufacturing businesses
About 16,000 manufacturing businesses would have their electricity bills slashed by about 20 per cent. A Community Service Obligation would be provided to government-owned corporation Energy Queensland.
When: Over four years
Cost: $493 million
– Second M1
The infrastructure would offer an alternative to the existing Pacific Motorway running between Nerang-Broadbeach Road and Stapylton-Jacobs Well Road.
When: Over four years
Cost: $755 million
– Hire 2530 nurses and midwives, 320 paramedics, 750 doctors and 840 allied health professionals
When: Over four years
Cost: $1.3 billion
– After school care
Create 30,000 additional places in before and after school care programs in a bid to reduce costs for families across Queensland.
When: Over four years
Cost: $20 million
– No new taxes
The LNP has committed to no new taxes.
When: Over four years
– No asset sales
The LNP has committed to no asset sales.
When: Over four years
Promises to be completed beyond the four-year term
– Four lane Bruce Highway
Upgrade the major infrastructure into a modern dual carriageway road along the entire length of the 1677km route. LNP has promised $50 million towards mapping out a detailed blueprint and to more than double the state’s annual spending on the highway from $200 million to $440 million. It also requires a 80:20 funding arrangement with the Federal Government.
When: Over 15 years
Cost: $33 billion
– New Bradfield Scheme
LNP has adopted a plan mooted by Sir Leo Hielscher and Sir Frank Moore. The water scheme could droughtproof parched western Queensland, generate power through hydro-electricity and open up a new food bowl. The LNP has committed $20 million for an initial CSIRO planing study.
When: More than a decade
Cost: $20 billion