Education Minister John Paul Langbroek hints towards more funding at Mackay State High visit

After a long-planned lift and parking space was installed at a Mackay school, MP Nigel Dalton said he’s ‘pushing’ for the upgrades he promised at the recent state election.

Education Minister John Paul Langbroek, Vice Captains Hunter Floyd and Kayla Woods and Mackay State MP Nigel Dalton at the Mackay State High School delivering on the announcement of Labor's $1.86 million school accessibilities upgrades. June 13, 2025

The education minister has told journalists there would be no need for an audit on state schools in Queensland as the local Mackay MP said he’s “waiting with bated breath” if the promised upgrades he took to the state election will be delivered by his LNP colleagues.

Minister John-Paul Langbroek appeared at Mackay State High with local MP Nigel Dalton to announce the school’s new lift and parking space which was installed in February after years in the works.

Mr Langbroek said while the projects were already completed, there was a need for more renewals to other school facilities in the state.

Education Minister John Paul Langbroek and Mackay State MP Nigel Dalton at the Mackay State High School with students Noah and Ethan delivering on the announcement of a $1.86 million school accessibilities upgrades.

“It’s been an indictment on the previous Labor government that we’ve had facilities that have not been up to scratch for students of all abilities,” he said.

The $1.86 million facelift was first allocated funding in 2023 under the previous Labor government, and completed in February this year.

Meanwhile, Mr Dalton’s $3 million election promise to fund facility upgrades for both Mackay State High and Mackay North State High will come down to the upcoming budget, something the local MP said he’d been pushing hard for.

At the time, Mr Dalton and Ms Camm said all election promises were “costed” and accounted for by treasurer David Janekzki.

Mr Langbroek and Mackay State High Principal Felicity Roberts.

“We don’t know what’s going to be in the budget, so we are waiting with bated breath,” he said.

“I think I can’t push much further.”

The funding would go towards renovating Mackay State High School’s air conditioning and delivering a new multifunctional hall for the school.

Principal Felicity Roberts said while movement for projects announced by Mr Dalton was moving “incredibly fast”, the new accessibility upgrades already installed finally provided all her students with access to the whole curriculum.

“Prior to that lift, my students like Noah, who is in a wheelchair, couldn’t access music facilities,” she said.

“There’s already been contractors having to tender … we weren’t anticipating we would see any of that promise for two or three years,” she said.

Originally published as Education Minister John Paul Langbroek hints towards more funding at Mackay State High visit