Outback Queensland
The 2024–25 Queensland Budget supports Queenslanders. In Outback Queensland it provides:
$1,300 electricity bill support
for Queensland households – an upfront $1,000 Cost of Living Rebate from the Queensland Government and a $300 rebate paid in quarterly instalments from the Australian Government.
$607M for health
for the North West, Central West and South West Hospital and Health Services.
$83M for education
to maintain, improve and upgrade schools in Outback Queensland.
$947M for the Big Build
for productivity-enhancing infrastructure and capital works, estimated to support 2,600 jobs in Outback Queensland.
Delivering for OUTBACK QUEENSLAND
Free Kindy
Up to 959 children eligible for free kindy in Outback Queensland, for 15 hours per week, 40 weeks per year.
(January 2024 to May 2024)
Fee-Free TAFE
826 fee-free TAFE courses commenced by people in Outback Queensland wanting to train, retrain or upskill in priority industries
(January 2023 to March 2024)
Skilling Queenslanders for Work
$12.4 million allocated to develop skills and provide training to 972 people in Outback Queensland, including 593 people who are now employed as a direct result of their participation in the program.
(July 2015 to April 2024)
Building our Regions
$69.5 million allocated to projects for critical infrastructure in Outback Queensland, supporting an estimated 337 jobs. This has leveraged further financial co-contributions statewide of more than $556 million from local governments, the Australian Government, and other organisations, with a total capital expenditure value of more than $974 million.
(March 2015 to March 2026)
Delivering better services for Outback Queensland
Growth from March 2015 to March 2024
440 extra nurses up 74.3%
512 extra teachers up 72.6%
102 extra doctors up 151.7%
143 extra teacher aides up 65.0%
Map
Explore Outback Queensland expenditure:
CopperString 2032 powering ahead for Queensland’s future
Delivery of the Queensland Government’s $5 billion CopperString 2032 project is powering ahead thanks to funding from the state’s progressive coal royalties. Led by Powerlink, the project will roll out a new electricity transmission line between Townsville and Mount Isa to connect Queensland’s North West Minerals Province to the National Electricity Market. CopperString 2032 will provide energy certainty through reliable, affordable and renewable power to the people, businesses and communities in the region, unlocking the state’s critical minerals potential in the North West.
Powerlink and its construction contractor, UGL CPB Contractors Joint Venture, are continuing to promote supply and employment opportunities to local businesses, Indigenous enterprises and social ventures. Works packages have already been released for expressions of interest covering engineering, construction, environmental management, logistics, camp construction, haulage and communications.
CopperString 2032 is set to support regional Queensland’s economic development over the long term. Not only is it creating skilled jobs for Queenslanders in construction, it will facilitate new clean energy projects across the North West region and protect jobs in traditional industries.
QUEENSLAND BUDGET 2024–25 AT A GLANCE
Total concessions including cost-of-living relief measures available in 2024–25
$11.2B
Investment in school and early education facilities
$1.3B
Total health funding in 2024–25
$28.9B
Total Big Build over 4 years
$107.3B
Community Safety Plan for Queensland
$1.3B
Jobs supported by the Big Build program in 2024–25
72,000
Putting Queensland Kids First Plan
$502M
Percentage of Big Build spend outside of greater Brisbane in 2024–25
68.5%
Homes for Queenslanders
$3.1B
Total capital investment to support the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan over 4 years
$26B