Qld budget 2025-26: Wangetti funding in but tourism cash details limited

The former tourism minister has criticised the LNP’s first state budget, calling for more details around exactly where the promised cash for the battling sector will land.

The Wangetti Trail has received additional funding in the 2025-26 state budget.

Former tourism minister Michael Healy has criticised the LNP’s first state budget, calling for more details around exactly where the promised cash for the battling sector will land.

The opposition spokesman for tourism said people in the Far North were seeking “clarification”, particularly in relation to the government’s flagship Destination 2045 plan.

The state budget did promise further funding toward the remaining 87km of the Wangetti Trail.

It will also invest more than $1bn over the next four years into the tourism sector, including $446m towards Destination 2045 and its aviation attraction scheme.

But the signature strategy unveiled earlier this month received just a single mention in the government’s budget papers, leaving question marks on how it would be divided across the state, Mr Healy said.

Member for Cairns Michael Healy has questioned the LNP's lack of detail in its first state budget. Picture: Samuel Davis

“There’s no clarification whatsoever,” Mr Healy said.

“I have spoken with people in government, I’ve spoken with the private sector. In the last 24 hours, people are asking more questions than anything.

“There’s a lump sum there, $466m over years... I have enormous concerns because they haven’t clarified where the money is going.”

Tourism minister Andrew Powell said the $466m would be “co-designed with industry to ensure it delivers results.”

TTNQ chief executive Mark Olsen, Member for Barron River Bree James, Director-General Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation Patricia O'Callaghan, Minister for Tourism Andrew Powell. Photo: Supplied.

“Former Labor minister, Michael Healy was secretly planning to slash tourism funding from $160m in 2024-25 to just $7.6m in 2028-29.

“Mr Healy also left behind a $125m funding cliff for Tourism and Events Queensland, which is the agency that supports our regional tourism organisations and promoting Queensland to the world.”

The Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation Department’s capital statement did specify funding for six Far Northern projects: The Wangetti Trail, the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Bamanga Muruku Tourism Hub, the Jindalba boardwalk, the Smithfield Mountain Bike Park expansion, Lake Eacham visitor facilities and the Cairns turtle rehabilitation centre.

The stalled Wangetti Trail which was previously budgeted for $47m will now receive an additional $19.7m over two years, valuing the project at $66m.

A mountain bike rider peddles along Stage One of the Wangetti Trail, an 7.8 kilometre stretch of what will eventually become a 94 kilometre hiking and mountain biking track connecting Palm Cove to Port Douglas along the Macalister Range National Park, designed and built by the Queensland Government and the local indigenous people. Picture: Brendan Radke

However after about $22m was spent to build the first 7.8km from Palm Cove to Ellis Beach, the new funding envelope will complete the track from Ellis Beach to Wangetti, and a separate section from Port Douglas to Mowbray River.

A department spokeswoman said the remaining section between Mowbray and Wangetti would be funded at a later date, and required replanning and further federal approvals.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Mark Olsen welcomed the increased tourism funding, stating it provided ambitious opportunities for the local industry.

The state and federal governments have jointly funded $24 million for The Great Barrier Urban Technology and Innovation Fund, to help improve water quality on the World Heritage-listed wonder off the Queensland coast. Queensland Environment and Tourism Minister Andrew Powell feeds Tommy the green turtle with the help of Member for Mulgrave Terry James, Member for Barron River Bree James, and Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre carer Kelly Goosen at the Cairns Aquarium. Picture: Brendan Radke

“To increase the spend for tourism from $640m to $1bn over four years is a big lift and it presents a significant opportunity for tropical North Queensland, aligned to the 2045 strategy around eco-tourism, aviation and events including business events.

“As an aviation dependent destination, we have seen the difference that direct air routes to Cairns can make with eight new routes helping to return our international visitor numbers to pre-pandemic levels and further growth anticipated.

“The additional funding for regional tourism organisations is also welcome and is something that we have been calling on for a decade.”

FNQ’S TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT PROJECTS IN QLD BUDGET

Wangetti Trail – $24.53m in 2025-26 and $13.43m post 2025-26

Eastern Kuku Yalanji Bamanga Muruku Tourism Hub – $2.74m in 2025-26

Jindalba boardwalk – $2.29m in 2025-26

Smithfield Mountain Bike Park trail network expansion – $1.76m in 2025-26 and $13.75m post 2025-26

Crater Lakes National Park visitor facilities upgrade – $1.1m in 2025-26 and $8.61m post 2025-26

Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre – $150,000 in 2025-25 and $450,000 post 2025-26

Originally published as Qld budget 2025-26: Wangetti funding in but tourism cash details limited