QUEENSLAND Treasurer Curtis Pitt used a Mount Isa forum to say last week’s state budget had an “unashamedly regional focus”.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Speaking at a North West Commerce business lunch at the Buff’s Club on Thursday Mr Pitt praised local member Robbie Katter for chairing the rural debt and drought taskforce that he established last year.
“We’re seeing one of the largest support packages for rural Queensland in recent memory in this budget and a very large part should be attributed to that taskforce,” Mr Pitt said.
“I’m particularly proud of the stamp duty concession in the inter generational transfer of property within the family farm to bring the next generation on the land.”
Mr Pitt said the Local Government Association of Queensland was also happy with the budget.
“We’re giving local government the tools they need, the co-investment with the state to deliver a range of things including transport projects and other essential infrastructure projects for their council areas,” he said.
Mr Pitt said the government was also spending $4m on the Hann Hwy and widening and sealing other roads across western Queensland.
“These projects are not just important for the jobs they create but they will help with the drive tourism market,” he said.
Mr Pitt said getting people back to work in regional areas was a major focus for the government.
“Our Back to Work program is all about job creation,” he said.
“We’ve put together a program that is not available to people in south-east Queensland but focusing directly on the regions, a $100 million package that allows us to incentivise employers to the tune of $10,000 if they are hiring or retaining someone for 12 months and if someone is long-term unemployed, that incentive is $15,000.”
Mr Pitt said the first time owners grant had been boosted from $15,000 to $20,000 for 12 months.
“That will be beneficial for regional Queensland and the latest report for Mount Isa talks about the median house price being $325,000 so this boost is going to be more than half of the 10% deposit.”
Mr Pitt said health budget increases direct benefit to to the north west. Cloncurry Hospital will get almost $1m refurbishment and there is $5m for Julia Creek hospital.