State Budget: More hip-pocket pain for Toowoomba families

TOOWOOMBA residents Nadia and Ben Horner are not sure how much more pain to the hip-pocket families can take.

TOOWOOMBA residents Nadia and Ben Horner are not sure how much more pain to the hip-pocket families can take.

Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls handed down his second State Budget yesterday saying it was about growing the economy, rebuilding the state and making communities more resilient.

Mr Nicholls confirmed increases in general insurance costs, car insurance and a 6.5 per cent increase to the fire levy.

The $181 hip-pocket slug for every Queenslander will raise about $1 billion in additional revenue for the State Government.

As expected the planned $100 electricity rebate for households was scrapped.

The Horners, who have two children aged three and four, believe the scrapping of the electricity rebate, combined with a 22 per cent electricity price increase announced last week, will hurt families the most.

Mrs Horner said she was disappointed the cost of living continued to be pushed up by all levels of government.

"Families do not have endless pockets. Something has to give," Mrs Horner said.

"Costs continue to rise but you do not really see any improvements anywhere.

"I no longer believe what the government is doing is for the betterment of the State," she said.

Mrs Horner said the increases would ensure the family watched their spending particularly closely.

"It will definitely affect our discretionary spending," she said.

"By reducing what families can afford to spend it affects the entire economy.

"Ultimately, if we can not afford it, then unfortunately we will not be able to do it."

Mrs Horner said any extra money the family could afford was put aside for their children.

"We try to make sure the kids are still able to do their activities because that is extremely important to us," she said.

"It just means we go without."

Nadia Horner said her family would have to watch every dollar as a result of yesterday's State Budget. . Picture: Kevin Farmer

Originally published as State Budget: More hip-pocket pain for Toowoomba families