June 15, 2016
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington has described the 2016-17 State Budget as a major disappointment for the people of the South Burnett.
“I really don’t know how our region is expected to continue on for another year with no funding committed to any projects,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“We have so many important projects that have to go ahead – like the Kingaroy Public Hospital, the South Burnett Clubhouse mental health facility and major road upgrades.
“Premier Palaszczuk and her clueless Treasurer have handed down a Budget that fails to deliver the jobs and services that the people of the South Burnett need now and for the future.
“Labor promised a Budget that would deliver jobs but unemployment will rise.
“They promised a Budget that would pay down debt but instead debt will increase. They promised record infrastructure but have slashed infrastructure funding to a record low.
“This means our region misses out on vital infrastructure and services, all because Labor can’t manage the books.
“This is a Budget of raids, rip-offs and writedowns which offers nothing for the people of the South Burnett.
“Everyone knows we desperately need a new public hospital in our region.
“How long will we have to wait? It is really quite unacceptable that the Kingaroy Hospital can be ignored by this Labor Government.”
The LNP released a list of the State Government’s Budget cuts by portfolio:
- Department of Education and Training $191.2 million
- Department of Transport and Main Roads $102.8 million
- Queensland Police $38.1 million
- Department of Justice and Attorney-General $28.3 million
- Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing $6.6 million
- Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation $5.9 million
- Department of the Premier and Cabinet $5.1 million
- Department of Agriculture and Fisheries $5 million budget year and forward estimates
- Queensland Treasury $4.5 million
- Department of State Development $2.9 million
- Department of Environment and Heritage Protection $2.7 million
- Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning $2.7 million
- Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders $1 million budget year and forward estimates
- Department of Energy and Water Supply $0.9 million
- Department of Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and Commonwealth Games $0.4 million
