Far North Queensland
The 2023–24 Queensland Budget supports good jobs, provides better services for all Queenslanders and protects our great lifestyle. In Far North Queensland it provides:
$1.7B on infrastructure
for productivity enhancing infrastructure and capital works, estimated to support around 4,900 jobs in this region.
$1.6B on health
for the Torres and Cape and Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Services.
$79.9M on education
to maintain, improve and upgrade schools in Far North Queensland.
$206.5M for social housing
to expand and improve social housing in Far North Queensland.
$88.5M for disaster recovery
and betterment projects to local government assets impacted by disaster events between 2019 and 2023. Delivered in partnership with the Australian Government.
$17.7M for homelessness services
to provide essential housing and support services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Far North Queensland.
Delivering better services for the Far North Queensland region
Growth from March 2015 to March 2023
321 extra doctors up 67.2%
210 extra teachers up 6.9%
69 extra ambulance officers up 24.9%
27 extra firefighters up 18.4%
Delivering for the Far North Queensland region
First Home Owner Grant
2,454 grants worth $41.1 million paid to home buyers to help them buy their first home in Far North Queensland.
(July 2015 to April 2023)
Building our Regions
$60 million allocated to 66 projects for critical infrastructure in Far North Queensland, supporting an estimated 417 jobs. This has leveraged further financial co-contributions statewide of over $539 million from local governments, the Australian Government, and other organisations, with a total capital expenditure value of over $887 million.
(March 2015 to February 2024)
Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Fund
An estimated $7.2 million, as part of a National Partnership Agreement, jointly funded with the Australian Government, to support 31 disaster mitigation projects and build resilience to natural disaster in Far North Queensland.
(June 2020 to June 2023)
Skilling Queenslanders for Work
$43.7 million allocated to develop skills and provide training to 5,394 people in Far North Queensland, with 3,086 people securing a job as a direct result of their participation in the program.
(July 2015 to April 2023)
Map
Explore Far North Queensland expenditure:
Regional Trade Distribution Centre takes off in Cairns
Credit: Andrew Watson Photography
The Queensland Government has committed $20 million to deliver 2 regional trade distribution centres to support Queensland producers to grow their businesses, with the newest facility opening at the Cairns Airport. This investment has been funded by the government’s Jobs and Regional Growth Fund.
The Regional Trade Distribution Centre Cairns opened in March 2023 following a one-year construction period that supported more than 200 jobs. The new facility is assisting producers to export fish and crustaceans (live and frozen), avocados, mangoes, and other fresh produce. With 2,400 square metres of space, the facility has ample capacity for future growth.
With a second trade distribution centre in Toowoomba, Queensland producers across the state now have greatly improved access to first-class facilities. Investing in export infrastructure will help more producers to capitalise on Queensland’s global reputation as a leader in the production and processing of quality produce.
QUEENSLAND BUDGET 2023-24 AT A GLANCE
Total concessions in 2023-24
$8.2B
Total capital program over 4 years
$89B
Total health funding in 2023-24
$25.8B
Jobs supported by the capital program in 2023-24
58,000
Investment in regional Queensland supported by coal royalties
over $16B
Percentage of capital spend outside of greater Brisbane in 2023-24
65.5%
Additional funding for social housing infrastructure and housing and homelessness support over 5 years
over $1.2B
Total capital investment to support the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan over 4 years
$19B