Progressive Coal Royalties Deliver Record State Budget

Following a 10-year coal royalty freeze in Queensland, new progressive rates will support state-wide investment, reflecting unprecedented pricing and revenues being collected by multinational coal companies.

Treasurer Cameron Dick said the new progressive royalty regime will minimise impacts on the coal industry yet deliver $1.2 billion in revenue to support regional Queensland.

“The budget provides more than $4 billion dedicated to hospitals in regional Queensland, including a new hospital for Moranbah, and major expansions for Mackay,” Treasurer Dick said.

Mackay will gain 128 extra hospital beds as the State Government embarks on the biggest expansion program ever seen in a State Budget focused squarely on health.

The $9.78 billion hospital and health infrastructure plan will include a $250 million investment to expand the Mackay Hospital by 2026.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the State Budget showed the government is acting to address a health bottleneck being experienced in every state in Australia.

“We are acting on a solution and part of that is investing in more health services and health infrastructure for Mackay,” the Premier said.

“We’re delivering more beds, more doctors, more nurses and more ambos.”

Member for Mackay Julianne Gilbert said an expanded hospital was vital for the region.

“More people are moving here which means we need more hospital beds to deliver the services we need,” Ms Gilbert said.

The new Sarina Hospital will also receive $20.6m this year.

As well as health, Mackay featured in transport and infrastructure spending.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the seventh record roads and transport budget in a row is helping to build an even more impressive pipeline of projects.

“Queensland is growing rapidly, with our world leading pandemic response making our state the place to be, but we know we need infrastructure to support this growth and that’s what this budget delivers for Queenslanders,” Mr Bailey said.

Assistant Regional Roads and Train Manufacturing Minister Bruce Saunders said major regional corridors such as the Bruce Highway are getting further significant investment, improving capacity, flood immunity and road safety.

“More than half of this record-breaking investment will directly support regional Queensland, with over $18 billion worth of road and transport projects being delivered outside the Brisbane region,” Mr Saunders said.

“This includes funding for major regional projects like the $350 million Mackay Port Access Road.”

Other key investments for the Mackay region included $497.4 million Mackay Ring Road (Stage 1), including works between the intersection of the Mackay Ring Road and Bald Hill Road, $186.6 million Walkerston Bypass, $144.6 million Mackay Northern Access upgrade, $35 million Peak Downs Highway (Clermont - Nebo), Wuthung Road to Caval Ridge Mine widening and strengthening pavement, $23 million Bruce Highway (Mackay - Proserpine), Jumper Creek flood immunity upgrade.

Almost $80 million will be invested in growing and transforming Queensland’s resources sector which includes $5.7 million over three years to add a future industries delivery hub to the existing Resources Centre of Excellence in Mackay.

The record police budget means that for the first time ever more than $3 billion will be invested in better policing services, which will include upgraded police facilities in Mackay, while $23.7m has been allocated to provide social housing across the region.

Resource Industry Network (RIN) says this week’s State Budget announcement that mining royalties are set to increase progressively based coal prices needs to come with a guarantee - to return the difference in royalties to the regions that generate the wealth.

In the last financial year, resources boosted the Queensland economy by a whopping $84.3 billion, with the Mackay region contributing a significant $18 billion of this total.

RIN General Manager Dean Kirkwood said as the industry moved into a new era of carbon neutral mining, it was essential that the regions driving the innovative solutions to make this happen, were supported in their journey.

“Investing in the regions just makes sense when it comes to delivering net zero solutions. The Mackay region, including Isaac and Whitsunday, has the capability and experience to fast track the new mineral economy,” he said.

“Given that resources account for one in every $5 spent in the Queensland economy, investing the royalties back into a region that’s embracing new industries and advanced manufacturing is vital.

“It means we can continue to be at the forefront of global mining innovation and technology, and as a result, allow Queensland to benefit and prosper from our immense natural resources,” Mr Kirkwood said.

Treasurer Cameron Dick and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk delivered the State Budget on Tuesday 21 June

Member or Mackay Julieanne Gilbert said Mackay Hospital will be expanded and an additional 128 new hospital beds added as part of the State Budget

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