Funding, international tourists on Far North federal budget wishlist

There’s a big Far North push for more cash to be included in Tuesday’s federal budget, as households and industry struggle to make ends meet. What they’re asking for.

CASH to help lure more international tourists to the Far North is on city leaders’ federal budget wishlists for Tuesday night, after money for a new CQUniversity campus and a marine precinct upgrade was announced earlier this month.

Labor’s $50m CQU Cairns campus commitment was confirmed by Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development minister Catherine King last Wednesday, along with $150m funding towards a Cairns marine precinct upgrade.

Queensland Senator Nita Green (left) and Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King in Cairns on Wednesday after confirming the Labor Government's commitment to the Far North.

Advance Cairns CEO Jacinta Reddan said she would be keeping an eye out for when the money for the “game-changing” projects would flow through.

“The important element of the two major projects is just how quickly the funds flow through so they can be shovel-ready and we can actually see the benefits flow on immediately (through initial construction jobs),” she said.

Ms Reddan said tourism leaders wanted to see $15m in international recovery funds to help attract overseas tourists back to Cairns.

Jacinta Reddan, Advance Cairns CEO, said she would be keeping an eye out for when the money for the “game-changing” projects would flow through. Picture: supplied

“The numbers are well below pre-Covid levels, with a low Australian dollar and a lot of pent-up global demand for travel, this is the time we don’t want to waste,” Ms Reddan said.

“It’s the international tourists that spend more.”

Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Mark Olsen said with just over seven per cent of the 2019 international market, the industry wasn’t only expecting to see $15m confirmed, it was relying on it.

“Tropical North Queensland has been one of the most successful international tourism regions in Australia, generating more than $1b a year in visitor spend in our regional economy,” he said.

A Qantas Airbus A330 and a Jetstar Airbus A320 wide body passenger jet aircraft sit on the tarmac at the Cairns Airport international terminal. Picture: Brendan Radke

“International tourism supported over 5500 full-time jobs in our region in 2019 and without that funding we will see hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs lost over the coming year as the domestic market starts to travel internationally again in 2023.”

CQUniversity promised its city campus will deliver a range of allied and specialist health degrees after hearing industry pleas for more occupational therapists, physiotherapists and podiatrists, while a marine precinct upgrade will increase capabilities and create jobs.

One major project yet to be confirmed was the $210m Kuranda Range Rd upgrade but Labor senator Nita Green said the government was finalising its funding.

“It’s a very complex project but it’s one that needs addressing by state and federal government … it does require funding to explore that thoroughly,” Ms Reddan said.

Cost of living crunch bites Cairns households as budget looms

EVERY little cent is adding up for Julie Macdonald’s household, as cost of living pressures rise and the weekly shop keeps getting more expensive.

With no relief in sight, Australians are being warned that times are not about to get any easier anytime soon even as the federal budget announcement looms.

Ms Macdonald works in reservations in the tourism industry and has found that the pinch is being felt everywhere across their budget.

“Even as a household of two, everything adds up at the supermarket especially up here in Cairns, the weekly shop keeps getting more expensive, and of course petrol … my husband works in the building industry and the cost of materials is also going up for him,” she said.

Having recently moved into a new house, Ms Macdonald is expecting more of the same to come.

Julie Macdonald works in reservations in the tourism industry and has found that the pinch is being felt everywhere across their household budget.

“We just moved in to a new place so haven’t received any bills yet, we are starting to renovate as well and all the materials are getting more expensive even things you don't think about like towel rails, so we expect more costs to come from everywhere,” she said.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers will hand down his first budget on Tuesday, delivering on Labor’s key federal election commitments in areas like skills and training, childcare and health, as well as highlighting significant economic “headwinds”.

The government is conceding things are not likely to get any easier any time soon as natural disasters, global events, such as the war in Ukraine, and ongoing management of inflation will all mean pressure on the hip pocket.

Adding to the continued hits of rate rises for families, is the fact that wages will not be rising with interest rates.

Wage growth is not expected to match the increased cost in living till 2024 at the earliest, meaning Australians’ pay will effectively be moving backwards for the next two years.

Originally published as Funding, international tourists on Far North federal budget wishlist