Federal budget preview: Toowoomba leaders outline their wishlists to Jim Chalmers

Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald and Groom MP Garth Hamilton have outlined their wishlists for tonight’s federal budget — and they have differing views on a key issue.

Groom MP Garth Hamilton believes that Toowoomba will largely miss out on key projects in the 2024-25 federal budget, while taking aim at the council for focusing solely on one item for funding.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered his second full budget on Tuesday in Canberra, which was predicted to reveal another surplus, this time of more than $9bn.

Broadly, there are incentives and relief for families thanks to the restructuring of the stage-three tax cuts, and people with higher education debt will see $3bn wiped thanks to indexing backdated to June 2023.

It is also believed there will be funding to improve gender equality, health and aged care as well as infrastructure projects in western Sydney, Canberra and cycling networks across regional Australia.

Australia's Treasurer Jim Chalmers (Front R) and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher (Front L) arrive for the budget lockup at Parliament House on May 14, 2024 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)

But Mr Hamilton said little of that was likely to make it to the Darling Downs, citing the government’s decision to cut the upgrade of the New England Highway at the army barracks in Cabarlah.

“I’m not optimistic — there’s not much left to cut (here),” he said.

“The examples are the planned safety upgrades at the Borneo barracks and continued confusion over Inland Rail.

“That barracks one I struggle with — it shows the perverse priorities of the government because that’s a safety upgrade that’s on a key road.”

Groom MP Garth Hamilton. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Along with the barracks and Inland Rail, Mr Hamilton said he had advocated for the expansion of Clive Berghofer Arena (by St Mary’s College), Hope Horizons, passenger rail to Brisbane and increases to funding for training in industries like transport and logistics.

The Toowoomba Regional Council has made funding support for the $270m Cressbrook Dam safety upgrades its sole priority, something Mr Hamilton criticised.

“At this point, I’ve taken the council’s case to Canberra and we’ve been given a pretty strong no from this government (around funding support), which is in line with a bipartisan view of infrastructure and water spending,” he said.

“I’ve requested council for a full list of projects that meet funding guidelines (for current grants), and I’ve not received it.”

Mayor Geoff McDonald. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald defended his council’s decision to advocate for Cressbrook alone, expressing hope the TRC could securing $20m from the next round of the $1bn Disaster Ready Fund administered by emergency management minister Murray Watt.

“The number one and only item is the funding for the dam safety, knowing we have a live application for $20m in matched funding (with the DRF) and we should have some indication in June about that,” he said.

“What council would advocate for ratepayers is separate from any grant schemes that might be available.

“We apply for funding through the federal or state programs, keeping in mind we need to have eligible projects first.”

Head online to thechronicle.com.au for the latest breakdowns of the federal budget.

Housing, council funding among leaders’ priorities

Both Groom MP Garth Hamilton and Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald have prioritised housing and cost-of-living support in their wishlists for the federal budget on Tuesday night.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ budget on Tuesday night was expected to address both through tax cuts and the investment of billions into building 1.2 million homes by 2030.

Mr McDonald said any wave of new housing needed to be supported by funding for key infrastructure, while he also reiterated the need for an increase to the federal assistance grants that go to local governments across Australia.

“Because housing continues to be an issue, we also need funding to provide some level of infrastructure assistance for state projects — one would think the Toowoomba Hospital would benefit,” he said.

“I also repeat my calls for councils to get 1 per cent of the total tax take, which means that can go to any operational works we have.

“The cost of doing business and delivering services at council is increasing.”

Mr Hamilton took a dim view of the budget’s outlook despite the predicted surplus of $9.3bn, arguing the perceived dissonance between the rhetoric of the government and the Reserve Bank would not fix cost-of-living pressures.

“The main thing we need to see is an end to the conflict between the RBA and the government,” he said.

“I’m very concerned about the difference in view.

“We’re feeling it across the community, in every area — if you’re a pensioner, you’re really hurting, whether it’s costs or anything else.

“There needs to be a sensible deflationary approach, and that comes from government spending.”

Mr Hamilton also found himself on the same side as Queensland Premier and regular sparring partner Steven Miles, with both calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to review the government’s immigration policy.

“With regards to housing supply, the big issue remains how does the federal government support local governments to unlock developable land,” he said.

“When we left government we had a cap on immigration of 162,000 – this government blew through 500,000.

“We have a huge productivity issue, my argument is the bigger priority is on reducing that demand on housing (and) despite the fact we’ve had the largest ever immigration surge, we still can’t get the people we actually need to fill the skills shortages.”

Originally published as Federal budget preview: Toowoomba leaders outline their wishlists to Jim Chalmers