Leading into tomorrow’s State Government’s Budget, Federal Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry, has called on Labor to remember where the funds which prop their Budget up are created and reward the hard work of Central Queenslanders.
Latest estimates released from Queensland Resources Council estimates $13.6 billion are to be poured into the state’s coffers for the 2022-23 financial year. $8 billion more than anticipated.
Michelle Landry, Federal Member for Capricornia, said she hopes to see much of these royalties returned to Central Queensland through better infrastructure, health services and boots on ground to curb the youth crime crisis.
“Capricornia is the engine room of the Queensland economy, with more than $13 billion being delivered back to the government in royalties.
“I hope to see further commitment from the state for the Rockhampton Ring Road. While $200 million has been put on the table for this critical infrastructure project, it an abysmally small amount of funding compared to what the southeast of the state sees.
“Over the weekend, it was announced another tunnel is to be constructed in Brisbane. The Labor State Government can find billions of dollars for new projects in Brisbane and overruns on current projects, yet the rest of Queensland is given the crumbs,” Ms Landry said.
Increased funding to support the hospitals and move the region out of a health crisis is also a high priority for Ms Landry.
“Our health system is groaning under the weight of being under-funded and lack of leadership from the Labor Government.
“There needs to be some serious money spent on health. It’s one of the biggest issues in the region. People are struggling to get in to see a doctor, they’re waiting a dangerously long time for surgery and must travel great distances to see a specialist.
“Central Queenslanders deserve better, particularly when the wealth of the nation is created from this region,” Ms Landry said.
Cost of living is taking a brutal hit to Capricornian’s hip pockets, with difficult financial decisions being made daily.
Energy prices are set to continue to spiral out of control under Labor, with regional Queenslanders outside of the southeast corner to cop the highest rate of electricity price hikes in the country, with bills to soar by a further 28.7% from 1 July.
This will see an increase of $429 a year on the average regional Queenslander’s electricity bill.
“Queenslanders at this time don’t want to see billions of dollars poured into renewable energy brainwaves. Particularly in projects, like the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro scheme, that is set to decimate one of the most pristine rainforest wilderness areas in Queensland and force over a hundred people from their homes.
“What this State Labor Government need to focus on is supporting a firm supply of energy that is reliable and cost effective,” Ms Landry said.
