State Budget 2011–12 Regional Budget Statement

Darling Downs and West Moreton State-wide Highlights Helping Queenslanders into new homes Over the 2011 summer, Queensland experienced State-wide • Massive stimulus package for building new homes devastation from natural disasters. • $10,000 grant for a new home contracted between The floods and Cyclone Yasi saw 100 per cent of Queensland local government 1 August 2011 and 31 January 2012 areas declared disaster affected and triggered the largest rebuilding and recovery • Zero stamp duty for first home buyers under operation ever undertaken in this state. $500,000 The 2011-12 Budget fosters that recovery, while also providing relief for families. • First home owners can now receive up to $17,000 My Government’s decision to abolish the ambulance levy will provide immediate • Kick-starting the housing market, generating jobs relief for families doing it tough. and construction There is also a new $140 million Queensland Building Boost, to stimulate the Rebuilding Queensland housing sector and make it more attractive for people to purchase their first home. • $6.8 billion in State and federal disaster funding, We will also implement reforms to our education system by moving Year 7 into high including $2.9 billion on roads, $2.75 billion for school, enabling our children to get full benefit from the new local governments and $656 million for small Australian Curriculum. This Budget invests a record amount in events business, non-profit organisations and primary funding - an $85.8 million boost over five years - to help Queensland producers attract major events and drive up tourism numbers. This is a Budget built on strength of spirit that will restore long-term social and Supporting jobs and investing in the future economic prosperity to the -West Moreton region and • $100 million over three years in new Smart State right across the State. initiatives • $85.8 million over five years to attract new events Anna Bligh MP to support tourism Premier and Minister for Reconstruction • Capital program of $15 billion in 2011-12, supporting 93,000 jobs A better education system for our children • $328 million over four years for State schools for On track for recovery from the global financial crisis, building works to move Year 7 to secondary school in 2015 Queensland’s economy was instead faced with the worst • $50 million in 2011-12 for the State School floods in 100 years and Cyclone Yasi. Investment Program Mines were flooded, crops destroyed and communities were isolated. Some of our key export partners, too, were hit by natural disasters. Investing in services The 2011-12 State Budget faces those challenges head-on, reprioritising our needs • A record health budget of $11.05 billion and maintaining our sights on prosperity and a return to surplus. • More police, to meet our commitment to deliver It will also chart our course back to the front of the economic pack, with growth in 600 officers this term, and 50 new ambulance 2011-12 to outpace the other states and the nation. officers Our prosperity is in our regions - our mineral-rich centres, our tourism and heritage A greener Queensland hotspots, and our business, industry and agriculture hubs. • $75 million to support investment in solar power This Government will maintain its focus on economic reform and energy generation jobs generation. • $60 million to the end of next year for Our infrastructure investment will clock in at $15 billion - more than ClimateSmart Home Services – reducing Western Australia and more than Victoria. The program will support households bills and carbon emissions almost 93,000 jobs. The 2011-12 State Budget will strengthen Queensland’s economy Capital expenditure per capita and deliver on our commitment to protect Queensland jobs. , Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast Darling Downs and West Moreton Andrew Fraser MP $3,250 Treasurer and Minister for State Development and Trade $3,000 $2,750 $2,500 Government services in Darling Downs and West Moreton $2,250 $2,000 Smart Service Queensland For Government services call 13 13 04 or visit www.qld.gov.au State Emergency Service Telephone: 132 500 $1,750 Investment per capita Investment 13 Health Telephone: 13 43 25 84 $1,500 Every Dollar Counts concessions website www.communityservices.qld.gov.au/community/concessions/ 2011-12

For more information about the 2011-12 State Budget: www.budget.qld.gov.au 2011-12 Regional Budget Statement – Darling Downs and West Moreton For more information about Government initiatives in your region, visit www.qld.gov.au/buildingqld

$2 million to com- $4.4 million for mence refurbishment $4.4 million to com- the Surat Basin of Dalby State High plete rehabilitation resources trade School. of the Lockyer Creek infrastructure Bridge and culverts on project at Miles $5.5 million of the Warrego Highway State High School. $27.5 million to at Helidon. replace turnouts and recondition the $8 million of $96 $100,000 to million to duplicate commence early Dalby to Rosewood rail line. lanes from Nugents works to replace the Pinch Road to west of ambulance station and Charlton, on the Key relief quarters at Tara. Warrego Highway. Health

$33.7 million $3.7 million to widen  Education  to complete and seal a section of the stage one of Law and order New England Highway Taroom the southern from Munro Road to Infrastructure Queensland Pioneer Road. Economic Development Correctional Centre Precinct at Gatton Community for $3.2 million due to open in Miles Chinchilla Disaster response kindergartens 2012. at Crows Nest, Condamine Crows Nest Gabbinbar and Disaster response funding Dalby Esk Hatton Vale State Gatton Schools. Funds to start the $202.6 million to $39.1 million of Laidley $1.3 million local governments $84 million to Boonah replacement auxiliary Warwick for recovery and Weengallonrestore transport fire and rescue $981,000 of reconstruction connectionsGoondiwindi station at Clifton. $2 million projects, in Thallonbetween Brisbane Stanthorpe for faster partnership with and Southern Texas Marston $5.5 million for emergency care the Australian Queensland, by

Michael new job creation at Toowoomba Government, repairing erosion of programs and Hospital, in including to and major land slips to grow a skilled partnership with repair the Jellicoe to the Toowoomba courtesy Photo workforce. the Australian Street Bridge in Range Road, rail Government. Toowoomba and crossings and $70,000 to relocate the Dandabah workshop $80 million to reconstruct Cunninghams Gap.  $500,000 and compound to the for vocational  Flagstone Creek annual funding to $25 million to Conservation Park education and Road and Lefthand support the new reconstruct sections adjacent to the Bunya training, including Branch Road in the National Carriage of the Warrego Mountains National Park. apprenticeships and Lockyer Valley. traineeships. Factory at the Highway between Cobb+Co Museum $10.9 million Macalister and Warra. in Toowoomba. to reconstruct the Mt Sylvia Road in $8 million to the Lockyer Valley. upgrade the Gatton-Esk Road $2.1 million between the to support

Viewfinder Warrego Highway community

MWA and the former Esk recovery and of Shire boundary. rebuild community cohesion. courtesy Photo

Cost of living support for Queenslanders Supporting our State’s regions by improving access to and affordability of a range of services:

• $140 million to reduce the cost • $165.9 million for cost of living • $54.6 million for the Patient Travel of electricity bills by abolishing the concessions, to improve affordability of Subsidy Scheme which assists patients Community Ambulance Cover levy. council rates for pensioners and electricity accessing specialist medical services not for pensioners and seniors. available within their local area. • $411 million to ensure that regardless of where they live, all Queensland electricity • $337.8 million for regional freight and • $146.7 million for the School Transport customers of a similar type pay a similar passenger transport subsidies, including Assistance Scheme to assist students price for electricity. air services in Toowoomba and bus who have to travel long distances to their services in Toowoomba and Warwick. nearest school.