Last week’s state budget has announced $500 million for the South-east Busway to Loganholme, further enhancing the highway corridor as a burgeoning centre for business.
There was money for most portfolios as Member for Woodridge and state treasurer Cameron Dick said there would be no attempt to balance the budget over the next four years.
The all-in budget means some projects which were waiting in the wings will be fast-tracked, particularly if deemed beneficial to jobs growth.
Mayor Darren Power has hailed last week’s state budget a boon for Logan.
In his column on Page 6, he lists a number of projects which have been given the green light, including a new locally-based economic hub, upgrade to Kingston Butter Factory, and potential additional community infrastructure.
Much of the school and road funding had been announced previously, with a school slated for North Maclean and Bahrs Scrub, and a multi-million-dollar budget into new buildings and facilities at existing schools.
Local members were busy announcing money for their respective portfolios.
Member for Waterford, Attorney-General and Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman said she was proud of $152 million to protect women and create jobs for women.
Money included $48.5 million to respond to domestic and family violence, $34.3 million for women’s shelters, $11.8 million for sexual violence services and $8.4 million for women’s health and wellbeing services.
“During the pandemic, more Queensland women lost their job than men, and we know women work in part time and in casual jobs, majority of which were ineligible for JobKeeper,” she said.
In his role as Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen, Member for Springwood Mick de Brenni announced a three-year trial for hydrogen cars.
“Transport systems around the world are undergoing a major phase of transformation with the rise of electric vehicles,” he said.
He was also pushing an affordable, reliable energy supply, underpinned by renewable technology.
“Across our entire state-owned fleet, we are investing over $2 billion in our energy assets to keep delivering the lowest wholesale electricity in Australia for industry,” he said.
“Our publicly owned energy businesses Cleanco, Stanwell, CS Energy, Engergy Queensland and Powerlink now have the opportunity to get their piece of the half-billion dollar fund to build, own and operate renewable assets and transmission infrastructure that will drive jobs in the clean energy sector.”
There would also be a $10 million hydrogen pipeline.
