With so many numbers bouncing around, so much data pulled from so many sources, government budgets can often seem difficult to follow. But break budgets down to the investments being made and you’ll quickly understand the benefits for communities like Logan – what’s being built, where services are getting strengthened, and, of course, how jobs will be created.
The budgets I handed down last December and last month deliver on our government’s Unite and Recover Economic Recovery Plan released last year. The 2021 Queensland Budget will ensure we continue to move through and beyond the pandemic and its impacts.
The budget sees another record investment for healthcare in Queensland. For education. For housing. For skills. It’s a budget that helps protect our precious environment.
It supports jobs in traditional industries like mining and agriculture, as well as new jobs in renewable energy, hydrogen, defence and aviation. It’s a budget that will help businesses, industry, and Queenslanders around the state.
In Logan that means $2.8 billion for healthcare, including the ongoing delivery of our half-a-billion-dollar expansion of Logan Hospital. More than $190 million will go towards upgrading facilities at our wonderful local schools.
Almost $690 million will be spent on infrastructure to improve liveability across our city, including ongoing road investments to build a better M1. This work will support around 2100 jobs in our region.
With $52.7 million allocated to social housing this financial year, we’re ensuring more vulnerable Queenslanders have a safe and secure roof over their head. More than $9 million will keep funding our successful training programs like Skilling Queenslanders for Work, getting more local people into jobs.
We’re also strengthening the backbone of our economy, our small businesses, with $22.1 million in payroll tax relief that will reduce operating pressures during the pandemic.
So as you can see, there’s a lot here for Logan, and if you see me out and about in Woodridge or other parts of the city please come and say hi. After a few weeks now selling the budget across Queensland I’m ready and eager to break down all the best bits for residents in our community.
