What is in the federal budget for Far North Queenslanders?

Government funding

Shaun Hollis

Journalist

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A 2020 inspection of the Barron River Bridge showed cracking in steel sections. Picture: Transport and Main Roads Department

Bridge repairs, road upgrades, remote laundries and the war on illegal tobacco importers are some of the Federal Budget measures that may directly impact Far North Queenslanders.

The Federal Government has pledged $7.2bn for upgrades to the Bruce Highway, as well as more than $97m to finish sealing the remaining 11kms of the Kennedy Developmental Road between The Lynd junction and Hughenden.

Recent floods on both roads contributed to food shortages in Douglas Shire supermarkets earlier this year.

Advance Cairns chief executive Jacinta Reddan welcomed the sealing of the Kennedy Developmental Road.

“We repeat our calls to undertake this work as a matter of urgency during the coming dry season,” she said.

“Additional funding into this key North-South transport and heavy freight route is vital.”

And $225m has been allocated for repairs to the Barron River Bridge on the Kennedy Highway between Cairns and Mareeba, also helping improve access to the Shire.

Built in 1963, the more than 250m-long bridge was shown to be cracking in some of the steel sections during 2020 inspections.

The budget also pledges close to $157m across the next two years to try to combat the importing of illegal tobacco and nicotine - the sparsely populated northern regions of Queensland are particularly susceptible to such activity.

And more than $11m has been pledged across the next four years from July to build and maintain up to a dozen community laundries in remote First Nations communities across northern and central Australia to help reduce skin infections that can lead to other more serious illnesses.

Labor Senator for Queensland Nita Green said Treasurer Jim Chalmers had delivered a “responsible budget” which would also help further build the nation.

“We are delivering real cost of living relief now, while also investing in the future,” she said.

Other budget measures affecting Far North Queensland include $50m for aviation maintenance training at Cairns Airport, banning foreign people from buying established Australian homes for two years “unless an exception applies”, and close to $37m allocated for wastewater, solid waste management and potable water supply services in remote Torres Strait First Nations communities, subject to joint investment with the State Government.

Other promises include $2bn across the next 19 years to support Australian aluminium smelters switching to renewable electricity before 2036, an undisclosed sum to help establish a Papua New Guinea rugby league team in the NRL and money to help control mosquito-borne diseases in the Torres Strait. 

 

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