Queensland government to spend more than $33 billion on public health next year

Australia Broadcast Center

5 hours ago

The Queensland government will invest more than $33 billion in the public health system next financial year, the ABC can reveal.
Treasurer David Janetzki will make the record funding announcement on Tuesday afternoon when he hands down the first state budget since the LNP's election win in October.
The budget will also include an investment of more than $18 billion in health infrastructure over the next five financial years.
More than $5 billion of that will fund the construction of new and expanded facilities, including the New Coomera Hospital on the Gold Coast, as well as expansions of Redcliffe and Townsville Hospitals.
The timeline for the delivery of those projects and which exact financial years the funds will be spent in remains unknown.
The government has said the record investment is a more than 10 per cent increase on this financial year, when its Labor predecessors spent almost $29 billion.
Mr Janetzki said the government was following through on its pre-election pledges.
"We made a commitment to Queenslanders that we'd deliver world-class health services where and when they need them, and this budget delivers on that promise," he said.
The LNP has promised to deliver more than 2,600 new hospital beds across the state through its 'Hospital Rescue Plan', although there's no timeline for when those will be operational yet.
While in opposition, it had committed to Labor's goal of 2,200 new beds by 2028.
A review of the former government's hospital expansion program found it had increased in cost to $17 billion, up from $9.8 billion.
Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the record investment would ensure vital services were kept running.
"The budget will fund measures Labor didn't fund or left underfunded, like the women and girls' strategy, staff entitlements including reproductive leave [and] legislated but unfunded midwife-to-patient ratios," he said.
Mr Nicholls said the funding would also allow Mater Hospital Springfield to open 186 public beds.
Queensland Health's operational budget over the next four financial years will be increased by more than $6.5 billion.
The former Labor government's last budget was headlined by big-ticket cost-of-living relief measures, including $1,000 energy rebates and 20 per cent vehicle registration discounts.
With those now due to end, Mr Janetzki flagged more targeted measures for those who "need it most", in an interview with the ABC on Sunday.
The government has otherwise been tight-lipped on what to expect from Tuesday's budget.
It has announced it will continue to fund a program launched by the previous government where parents with children playing sport can access $200 vouchers.
Concessions of $30,000 for first home buyers purchasing a new build will also be continued.
On Monday, the government detailed a raft of crime prevention measures, including almost $150 million for police equipment like tasers and body-worn cameras as well as $50 million for crime prevention schools for at-risk youths.
While in opposition, the LNP promised debt would be lower under its governance than Labor's.
It has also ruled out any cuts to the public service.
A budget review in January showed Queensland's debt was forecast to surge to $218 billion by 2027-28, up from the $172 billion Labor forecast in its final budget.
The opposition, though, accused the government of juicing the books to make the outlook look as bad as possible.
The full budget will be delivered on Tuesday afternoon.