Outback Queensland
The 2023–24 Queensland Budget supports good jobs, provides better services for all Queenslanders and protects our great lifestyle. In Outback Queensland it provides:
$675.8M on infrastructure
for productivity enhancing infrastructure and capital works, estimated to support around 2,300 jobs in this region.
$545.7M on health
for the North West, Central West and South West Hospital and Health Services.
$30.3M on education
to maintain, improve and upgrade schools in Outback Queensland.
$239M 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.
$40.8M for social housing
to expand and improve social housing in Outback Queensland.
$6.1M for homelessness services
to provide essential housing and support services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Outback Queensland.
Delivering better services for the Outback Queensland region
Growth from March 2015 to March 2023
110 extra nurses up 18.5%
39 extra doctors up 57.8%
19 extra firefighters up 86.8%
9 extra ambulance officers up 12.3%
Delivering for the OUTBACK QUEENSLAND REGION
Works for Queensland
$27 million provided to regional councils to undertake 93 maintenance and minor infrastructure projects in Outback Queensland.
(July 2021 to June 2024)
Building our Regions
$51 million allocated to 74 projects for critical infrastructure in Outback Queensland, supporting an estimated 283 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 November 2024)
Drought Relief Assistance Scheme Funding
$44 million in financial assistance provided to 1,652 Outback Queensland farms to help manage the adverse impacts of drought.
(March 2015 to April 2023)
Skilling Queenslanders for Work
$10.4 million allocated to develop skills and provide training to 799 people in Outback Queensland, with 477 people securing a job as a direct result of their participation in the program.
(July 2015 to April 2023)
Map
Explore Outback Queensland expenditure:
North-west connection unlocking jobs, renewables
The Queensland Government is investing $5 billion in CopperString 2032, a 1,100-kilometre transmission line from Townsville to Mount Isa that will connect Queensland’s North West Minerals Province to the national electricity grid.
This project will unlock one of Australia’s largest renewable energy zones and potentially more than $500 billion in new critical minerals. To be delivered by Powerlink, CopperString 2032 will connect vast renewable wind and solar resources with critical minerals mining and processing that can be used to make batteries and renewables.
CopperString 2032 is one of the most significant investments in economic infrastructure ever seen in North Queensland. It has the potential to support around 800 direct jobs over its 6-year construction to 2029, and thousands more in critical minerals mining and renewable energy industries. Early works are expected to start in late 2023 and construction in 2024. This project will be delivered through the government’s Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, a pathway to transition Queensland to clean, reliable and affordable power.
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