Member for Gregory, Lachlan Millar, has declared the 2018 State Budget “All Talk, No Action for Rural Queensland”, with no new health, school, road or agriculture funding announced in the Budget handed down on Tuesday.

Mr Millar states that this budget backs Brisbane but does nothing to support those in Rural Queensland.

“Make no mistake, this is a budget for Brisbane, not a budget for Queensland” Mr Millar said.

“The Treasurer made big promises of Education spending, with $668.4 million announced for capital spend.  Disappointedly, while $195 million is being spent on schools in Brisbane, with absolutely nothing being spent on schools in the Central Highlands and the Central West.

“Rural Queensland is crying out for better, local health services.  Sadly, there has been no new money for services for the Central Highlands and the Central West, that’s no new money for dialysis chairs, no new money for beds in our hospitals, no new money for local health services. 

“Of the spruiked $53.3 million to upgrade health infrastructure, Blackall Hospital was the only winner, and even then, they only received $1 million of a budgeted $17 million upgrade.

“Cluster fencing has been one of the most successful projects in Rural Queensland, with lambing rates increasing from 20 percent to 90 percent, and helping deliver record wool prices of over 2000 cents per kilogram. 

“It’s helping restore industry confidence to the region and bringing people back to towns like Longreach, Blackall, Isisford and Muttaburra.  But the State Government has halved Cluster Fencing funding to $2.5 million a year.

“This is on the back on record coal royalties, a $1.5 billion boost to Treasury coffers from coal royalties and 5 new taxes on hard working Queenslanders.

“The Premier likes to say that this budget is supporting Regional Queensland, but the Budget papers show that it’s a Budget for Brisbane, with total distain for the regions that are the powerhouse of the state” Mr Millar said.

Fast Facts:

• $195 million for Brisbane schools, but absolutely nothing for Central Highlands and Central West schools
• No New Roads for Central Queensland or Central West Queensland
• Only $1 million of a $17 million redevelopment for Blackall Hospital committed
• Halved funding for Cluster Fencing