Queensland State Budget 2015-16

[ozbob]

The Treasurer, Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, the Honourable Curtis Pitt MP, will hand down the Queensland Budget in Parliament on Tuesday, 14 July 2015 at approximately 2.30 pm.

>> http://www.budget.qld.gov.au/

[ozbob]

ABC News --> What Queenslanders want from the state budget

[ozbob]

What would you like to see?

I think CRR is a long way away, however I think SCL upgrade Beerburrum to Landsborough North is achievable.

Like to see more investment in ATP (ETCS 1/2)

GC light rail can be achieved without Federal funding by looking at alternate funding models.

Fare reform.

[Stillwater]

All planning and environmental approvals have been approved for SCL duplication to Landsborough North [note 'north'], so plans can be implemented fast to take up the slack caused by the downturn in the mining industry, which uses many of the same skills and equipment as required to build a railway line.  Hopefully a deal can be unveiled that uses a mix of state and fed money, with the fed contribution in recognition of the national freight task component the SCL/NCL line performs.  (In contrast to Gold Coast light rail extension, which the feds expect the state government to pay 100 per cent as it is a passenger only venture.)  Maybe a state 'surcharge' could be applied to Stockland for developing the city of 50,000 adjacent to Landsborough and Beerwah.  Duplication to Landsborough North and train stabling at Woombye would achieve major efficiency improvements for the line.

[#Metro]

Basic reforms enable projects to proceed.

1. Stamp duties abolished and replaced with reformed Land Tax.
2. 4 year fixed election cycle to lessen political risk with large multi-year infrastructure projects
3. Bus reform (probably does not need budget funding, but an allocation for consultants, TL resourcing etc might be required)

[Stillwater]

SCL upgrade is a no-brainer because a quality workforce just down the road is about to come of stream (talking about workforce building the MBRL).  It is in place, it has the skills and can transfer almost immediately to SCL duplication to Landsborough North.  Being Queensland, it is probable that MBRL workforce , contractors and equipment will dissipate; only to have the state government call tenders for SCL upgrade in 3-5 years time.  This would require the re-assembly of the team and skills base that can transfer across intact and immediately if SCL duplication to Landsborough North were funded from 2015-16.  Plus, SCL duplication has a benefit-to-cost ratio of 2.2.  As such, it is a significant plus for the state economy.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> What we know about the Queensland State Budget

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Queensland budget 2015: What we know about Treasurer Curtis Pitt's economic plan

[ozbob]

I would hope that concession fares for unemployed will be delivered in this budget. 

It is after all Labor Queensland policy > http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10966.0

[Jonno]

If we do not see a reprioriting ion of road budget to active and public transport then they will remain in the political wilderness at huge cost to society.

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2015/7/13/queensland-opens-door-to-private-infrastructure-investors

Media Release
Treasurer, Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
The Honourable Curtis Pitt

Queensland opens door to private infrastructure investors

The Palaszczuk Government will introduce a streamlined assessment process to encourage infrastructure investment and development in Tuesday's State Budget.

Treasurer Curtis Pitt said the time was right to encourage market led proposals to play a greater role in promoting growth and investment opportunities in Queensland.

"We want to send out a very clear message to developers and investors that Queensland is open for business," he said.

"Our government is focused on infrastructure delivery, which is why we want to harness the knowledge and expertise of the private sector.

"We want to engage more seamlessly with industry to secure new projects and attract more investment.

"That's why we're making it easier for the private sector to submit proposals which can capture economic uplift and job opportunities.

"We want Queensland to lead the nation in working with the private sector to implement innovative financial arrangements which can deliver infrastructure, new projects and more jobs."

Mr Pitt said a new online portal would go live this week, enabling proponents to put forward proposals for priority consideration.

"This portal will make it easier for industry proponents to submit a proposal, especially complex proposals with interest from multiple government departments," he said.

"We're going to require government agencies to consider private sector collaboration to bring projects online as a priority.

"An expert panel comprised of representatives from key government agencies will assess any market-led proposals."

Mr Pitt said the streamlined assessment process for market-led proposals aimed to attract unique proposals.

The guidelines now state that a proposal and/or proponent may be considered unique if, for example:

• The proponent owns or controls land, intellectual property or other legal rights that limit competitors from being able to deliver the same outcomes;
• There are no competitors or those currently in the market would be unable to deliver the same outcomes; or
• A combination of unique attributes are demonstrated by the proponent to create a unique proposal and constitute an innovative departure from previous practice.

"Queensland needs a whole-of-government project assessment process that establishes a common approach to assessing infrastructure projects at critical stages in their lifecycle," he said.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> $180m jobs plan anchors Queensland Budget

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2015/7/13/advance-queensland-launch-breakfast

Media Statements
Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

Monday, July 13, 2015

Advance Queensland Launch Breakfast

Can I thank you all for being here.

It's wonderful to see so many familiar faces, but also some new ones from right across the startup community, industry and the research base.

Thanks to Professor Coaldrake for hosting us today, and a warm welcome to all the senior representatives from our great universities here in Queensland.

The Chief Scientist, Dr Geoff Garrett is with us today.

Can I acknowledge my hard-working Ministers who are here with us.

    Jackie Trad, the Deputy Premier.
    The Treasurer, Curtis Pitt.
    Health Minister, Cameron Dick.
    Education Minister Kate Jones.
    And Science and Innovation Minister Leeanne Enoch.

Of course, Curtis is putting the final touches on his first Budget, and the first Budget of our Government.

Our economic agenda

It's no accident that we have chosen today to announce this policy - the day before the Budget.

That's because Advance Queensland is not only at the core of tomorrow's Budget, but I believe it's at the core of our state's economic agenda.

Historically, Queensland's economic story has been anchored by its natural strengths.

Those traditional strengths need to be fostered and encouraged.

But we must also open our eyes to new possibilities.

Our main competitors are investing heavily in innovation, science and tackling the challenges of this century and the next.

We can't just follow the pack – we need to lead the pack.

Friends,

Queenslanders would've heard me say one word many times – jobs.

That's because job creation and protection is at the heart of what I'm about.

My Advance Queensland policy, and tomorrow's Budget, isn't just about jobs now, it's about jobs for the future.

And where Advance Queensland fits in is simple.
Advance Queensland is about bridging the gap between great ideas and the jobs they can lead to.

It's about empowering our best entrepreneurs, innovators and thinkers, and translating their work into commercial successes.

Because that means – and there's that word again – jobs.

What kind of jobs?

But what jobs am I talking about?

Queensland mums and dads want to know: "are there jobs and opportunities here for me? What does it mean for my kids and their future?"

New ideas and technologies are transforming every aspect of our lives – medicine, food products, clothing, communications, fuels – the list goes on.

For example, when a scientist develops a new way of processing biomass into biofuels and industry decides to invest, it provides opportunities for farmers – now and into the future.

It's not just jobs on farms either.

Its service jobs in local towns, and jobs at processing plants.

Then there's the jobs in logistics, infrastructure and the supply chain, construction and transport, specialised jobs like chemical storage and disposal.

The examples are everywhere.

When an engineer develops a new device for less invasive heart surgery, it will create materials manufacturing jobs.

And with the advancements in robotics and IT, we can't yet imagine the true scope of what is possible.
Which is exactly my point – the possibilities are endless, many opportunities are unimaginable.

We must become the state that commercialises our innovations – not the state that loses jobs because of them.

It's up to us to work together to make that happen, and I believe Advance Queensland can be the catalyst for that.

Our success story to date

It's important at this point to reflect on the success we as a state – together - have had.

In 1998, the Beattie Labor Government began investing heavily in research infrastructure and skills through the Smart State program.

In fact, between 1998 and 2012, the Beattie and Bligh Governments invested around $4.9 billion in our knowledge industries and life sciences.
Add to that the co-investment from the Commonwealth Government, universities and the philanthropic sector and the total amount invested was around $8.2 billion.

In the life sciences alone, we now have 47 research institutions here, with some of the world's best minds tackling challenges from cancer vaccines to pain medications and everything in between.

Having those institutions has allowed us to attract some of the world's best research talent, while at the same time enabling us to keep our best here at home.

All that has resulted in an international reputation for science and research excellence that sets us apart.

The challenge from here

And there's no doubt we have had some extraordinary commercial successes.
Gardasil and Spinifex, Halfbrick Studios and RedEye – all examples of discoveries and ideas developed here at home that have attracted global investment.

But ever since I started my Advance Queensland consultation process when I was Opposition Leader, up to and including the two recent trade missions to the US and Singapore as Premier, there has been one constant piece of feedback.

That is:

We have many promising ideas, but we need to ramp-up our capacity to turn those ideas into investment-ready business proposals.

If we want to turn great ideas into jobs, we need to attract investors.

Advance Queensland

And so I turn to the details of the Advance Queensland policy.

You may recall that I took to the election campaign a $50 million Advance Queensland program that sought to support our university sector and encourage new investment.

Well, the Advance Queensland policy I announce today goes much further.

It speaks to what we need to do to not only strengthen our research talent base, but to create a thriving startup culture, and a vibrant venture capital sector.

It also provides new support to ensure the future generation of Queenslander's have the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths skills, or STEM as its known, as well as the creative and entrepreneurial skills to shape the future.
At the core of tomorrow's Budget will be a $180 million Advance Queensland package that will deliver jobs now, and create the jobs of the future.

The key elements of the policy are:

    A $50 million Advance Queensland Best and Brightest Fund, which will develop, attract and retain world-class talent - both scientific and entrepreneurial;
    A $46 million Advance Queensland Future Jobs Strategy, which will open the door to new industry/research collaborations, tackle the big innovation challenges, focus on translation, and deliver 10 year roadmaps for industries with global growth potential;
    A $76 million Business Investment Attraction package, which will encourage a new wave of Queensland startups, support proof-of-concept projects, and attract co-investment through the Business Development Fund.
    And $8 million will be set aside to give us flexibility to respond as new opportunities arise, especially as we develop roadmaps with industry partners.

This is a comprehensive suite of reforms that I believe will be a game-changer for this sector, and a game-changer for the Queensland economy.

$50 million Advance Queensland Best and Brightest Fund

The $50 million Advance Queensland Best and Brightest Fund has several elements.

As I promised during the election campaign, we will invest in a series of Fellowships and Scholarships at our research institutions.

If we don't act now, a lot of our best and emerging talent will leave our shores for better opportunities.

Because I can assure you the competition is intense.

When I was in the US, we were told that many of CalTech's best robotics researchers had actually been poached by Uber.

Whether its universities or the private sector, there is a global fight for talent that we can't afford to lose.

The second element is around Global Partnership Awards.

We need to recognise that as good as we are in many areas, there is so much we can learn from the major players overseas.

Our Global Partnership Awards will see graduates and emerging entrepreneurs be offered the chance to learn from a stint in an overseas research institution or major company.

We need to learn from the best whether it be in Boston or Bangalore, Silicon Valley or Singapore.
And the program won't just be of benefit for individuals, it will allow all of us at all levels to create stronger partnerships, and access new customers or investors.

We will also be supporting Knowledge Transfer Partnerships – enabling SME's to have postgraduate students work in their company on projects that will help develop their products or services.

And finally as part of our Best and Brightest initiative, we will undertake a future schools review of the teaching of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, and how it could be expanded in Queensland schools.

Our goal is to make sure our students are at the cutting edge of innovation through the development of skills to become the technology architects of the digital age.

This will include an assessment of coding and computer science, as well as early stage robotics, something I firmly believe should be a part of our education system.
We will also transform the teaching of STEM through focussed professional development, teacher scholarships and by working more closely with our universities to ensure we can better provide inspirational teachers of STEM subjects in all of our schools.

The review will be undertaken by a team of independent experts and I expect it to be completed by the end of this year.

Those four initiatives as part of the $50 million Advance Queensland Best and Brightest Fund are about investing in our human capital.

$46 million Advance Queensland Future Jobs Strategy

The $46 million Advance Queensland Future Jobs Strategy will focus on collaborations and initiatives today that can deliver the industries and the jobs of tomorrow.

The first tranche of funding in the Future Jobs Strategy will consolidate three major partnerships that will help deliver that ultimate goal of turning ideas into jobs.

Queensland has world recognised excellence in medical biotechnology research.

With new Government support, the aim is to translate a greater number of discoveries into healthcare products and treatments.

In the US, I was fortunate to meet with Vice-Chancellor Hoj from UQ and Professor Dennis Liotta from Emory University in Atlanta.

Professor Liotta is the scientist behind the world's leading HIV treatments.

He has had as much success at commercialising discoveries as anyone else in the world.

Professor Liotta has chosen Queensland and UQ to collaborate on a new Drug Discovery Initiative.

The Government will provide initial seed funding to get the project up and running.

We will also invest in a new partnership between the Translational Research Institute and global technology giant Siemens, called the Siemens Innovation and Translation Centre.

Siemens and their partners at Massachusetts General Hospital are world-leaders when it comes to the field of MRI scans.

And today, I am very excited to announce that over the weekend, the world's biggest pharmaceutical company, Johnson and Johnson, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with QUT and the Queensland Government.

A new Johnson & Johnson partnering office at QUT will facilitate access to the vast resources and expertise across Johnson & Johnson's scientific research, investor and commercial business sectors to help build, nurture and accelerate the local life science ecosystem.

Whilst based at QUT, this will reach out to partners across the state and the Asia Pacific.

I am very pleased to say that I had meetings with the partners involved in all three projects when I was in the US, and I am delighted to see those meetings bear fruit.

Aside from the discoveries and advances these projects make, they will also act as a magnet for innovators across Australia, Asia and the rest of the world to consider Brisbane as a potential location for business, both medical and non-medical.

The Advance Queensland Future Jobs Strategy will also include something I'm particularly excited about.

The $19 million Innovations Challenge will identify emerging needs and immediate demands, and ask researchers and industry to combine to provide the answers.

This is about encouraging collaboration in order to get results.

Those questions could be related to agriculture, or renewable energy, or IT, or health services delivery, among many others.

It is a globally successful model where our best innovators rise to the challenge, and I know our startups, researchers and industry partners are up to it.

One of the first challenges we will set is around biofuels.

I was fortunate to meet with senior representatives from the US Navy on their Great Green Fleet plans, and discuss the role Queensland could play in supplying the biofuels they need.
We cannot wait for the world. We must tell the world we are ready.

One of the most important elements I'm announcing today is that the Future Jobs Strategy will include funding that will see Government work with industry and academic partners to develop 10 year road maps for emerging industries.

If you want to be a global innovation leader, you have to articulate to the world a long-term plan.

It will help identify the policies, regulations, the removal of unnecessary red tape, and settings that can best provide the certainty to help people invest and new industries to emerge.

I can assure you we will be consulting heavily during this process and I will do everything within my power to ensure it has the support of the entire Parliament.

And we have the track record – look no further than our world-first LNG industry, which is now exporting gas from Queensland to the world.

$76 million Business Investment Attraction package

And the third element of my Advance Queensland plan is one that is particularly close to the Treasurer's heart, but also the area in which I think we need our heaviest focus.

As a Government, we know that the real driver of economic change are entrepreneurs and ambitious businesses.

Every big corporate starts as an emerging business that took a chance.

Startups can reshape entire industries through technology and business model innovation.

They are vital to job creation and prosperity - in fact studies have found that each technology job created leads to five additional jobs in other sectors.

This can be simply because of the relative lack of available capital here in Australia, or because our skills are currently better suited to developing the ideas rather than selling them.

Unfortunately, only seven per cent of Australia's tech startups are in Brisbane.

That's something we have to change.

My Government will establish a $24 million Startup Queensland program, to increase startup formation and attraction in Queensland.

We want to play our role in backing successful programs that help ambitious businesses to access the support needed for accelerated growth.

We want to work with existing incubators and accelerator programs to provide an integrated suite of seed funding, co-working space, mentoring, and connection to customers and markets.

And we want to explore an R&D Tax Credit matching program for early stage companies.

We need bold action if we are to create a deeper pool of investment ready businesses here in Queensland.

We will also pilot a Queensland Small Business Research Initiative based on the highly successful models in the US and UK.

This competition based program will generate new business opportunities for SMEs, a route to market for their ideas and bridges the seed funding gap experienced by many early stage companies.

The second major element Business Investment Attraction package, comprising $52 million in dedicated funding, will improve access to finance and management support for start-ups and SMEs.

This will include a $12 million Queensland Commercialisation Program to support proof of concept projects, designed to lead to new products and services.

And it will include a $40 million Business Development Fund.

Through the Business Development Fund, Government will provide seed co-investment to match and encourage greater angel and venture capital investment in Queensland businesses.

This model has been used successfully in Israel, the UK and New Zealand to build a vibrant angel and venture capital sector.

In New Zealand alone, it has leveraged over $3 of private investment for every $1 of Government investment.

The Business Development Fund could help many Queensland businesses translate their ideas into products and services and access global export markets.

And if we can get those businesses over the line, who knows how many jobs and how big an economic windfall we could create?

Friends,

My Government's first State Budget tomorrow will deliver on our election commitments and it will outline our economic agenda.

As I said earlier, the Advance Queensland package I've announced today is central to that agenda.

My vision for this state is very clear – we must create the knowledge-based jobs of the future.

We must look to become a regional investment and innovation hub – a launch pad into Asia for some of the biggest players in the world.

We have the people. We have the ideas. We have the infrastructure.

We share the same timezone as Asia and we have a lifestyle that is the envy of the world.

But there are missing links:

• We need much greater collaboration and movement between the science base and the business community, especially overseas;
• We need a bigger pipeline of world-leading, investment-ready business opportunities;
• And we need the private sector capital and skills to turn these opportunities into products, profits and jobs.

We are determined to send a clear message to the investment world that we are serious about putting these links into place.

I'm not suggesting that transforming our ideas into the jobs of the future will be easy.

And I'm proud of the fact that these reforms aren't just about delivering immediate results, although I believe some of them will.

Advance Queensland is about playing the long game - because the reality is many of these projects can take years to come to fruition.

For those that say there is no role for Government in this space, I say they are very wrong.

Look at Singapore, Denmark, the US, China, among others.

Governments are investing heavily to pursue innovation-led 'smart' growth.

Governments can help to create and shape markets, before getting out of the way.

I believe Advance Queensland gives us the opportunities to take on this challenge.

It gives us every chance to solve global challenges, seize opportunities in growing markets, fight for investment dollars, and create the jobs of the future.

If we're going to build a stronger, more diversified economy and create the jobs of the future, now is the time to back ourselves.

My government is committed to working with you in playing our full role in making it happen.


Thank you.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

14th July 2015

Queensland Budget 2015

Good Morning,

We note the media release Queensland opens door to private infrastructure investors  http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2015/7/13/queensland-opens-door-to-private-infrastructure-investors

Hopefully this augers well for the Gold Coast Light Rail stage 2.

The upgrade of the Sunshine Coast Line - Beerburrum to Landsborough North is an essential project and we hope that this gets funding to proceed in the budget.

Fare reform for SEQ is essential.  Extending concession fares to the unemployed, which is Queensland Labor policy will hopefully be implemented in this budget.

Hopefully a clear indication that a proper fare review process will be embarked upon as well.

Cross River Rail also needs to proceed.  We expect this will take a little longer to work up.

Bus network reform for Brisbane is also urgently needed.  This is effectively a cost neutral process and needs to proceed immediately and is really not directly linked to the budget, other than an improved network will in turn mean more passengers and an improved fare box.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Queensland Budget 2015: Australia's biggest councils ask for fair share

... Logan

1  Upgrade the Wembley Road and Logan Motorway Interchange to unlock new jobs;

2  Widen the Pacific Motorway through Logan;

3  Extend the South-East Busway from Rochedale to Loganholme.

Gold Coast

Stage two of the Gold Coast light rail project. That's it.

Sunshine Coast

1  Making sure funding to open the new Sunshine Coast University public hospital is ongoing.

2  Funding to address 'underfunding' from previous governments, recognising ageing population.

3  Recognise Sunshine Coast is Queensland's second-fastest growing region and consider rail projects

Brisbane

1  Planning for a new bus and train link over the river

2  Extending the Eastern Busway down Old Cleveland Rd

3  Extending the Northern Busway near Bowen Bridge Road.

Ipswich

1  $300,000 for a feasibility study for the city's new arts centres.

2  Money for the city's new Norman Street Bridge at North Ipswich.

3  Money for the city's new technology incubator hub – called "1860" - at the city's old fire station.

Moreton Bay Regional Council

1  No decreases to council subsidies

2  No increase in stamp duty

3  Ongoing support for regional transport and road projects

Redlands City Council

1  Commit to the Bligh's government previous plan to extend the busway from Coorparoo to Capalaba

2  Fund $20 million North Stradbroke Island economic transition plan over four years to help 270 Sibelco employees.

3  Increase funding to Redlands Hospital in the fast-growing areas.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/queensland-budget-2015-australias-biggest-councils-ask-for-fair-share-20150713-gibew5.html#ixzz3fnZ5DX6g

Sure billions of $$ for busways but cannot even do basic bus network reform?

Wankers !!

[#Metro]

[ozbob]

Huh?  I was sooooooooo looking forward to the P524 Rocket-BUZ  ... oh well ...

[#Metro]

Huh?  I was sooooooooo looking forward to the P524 Rocket-BUZ  ... oh well ...

Fictional monologue:

Well, can't do it. Because infrastructure.

See, we'd have to build a full blown busway at $465 million/km, complete with diamond-encrusted lane markings to get access to your house. This of course requires federal funding (because we don't want to pay for it) which we are preparing a submission to Infrastructure Australia for exactly that, but because the rules say we have to sell something, we will also wait around until the rules modify themselves for that to happen - see we're still lobbying really really really hard.

The whole project will cost $10 BN straight up and take a decade to do.

We will then need to prepare the business case, environmental case, festoon the whole thing in approvals, stamps, community consultation, blah blah blah

... so overall nothing will happen until 2090 at the earliest but did you know we reserved the corridor by drawing broken lines on this map and the glossy brochure and animation is also in preparation.

[ozbob]

Possibly more fact than fiction LD! 

[ozbob]

Live >> https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/broadcast-chamber/live?&broadcast_accept=1

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Queensland State Budget 2015: live coverage

[ozbob]

Not much for transport ..

MBRL

Rail infrastructure – $72.6 million of $167.6 million for a third rail track between Lawnton and Petrie Stations, due for completion in 2016. $136.7 million of $988 million, in partnership with the Australian Government and the Moreton Bay Regional Council to provide a dual track passenger rail line from Petrie Station to Kippa-Ring Station, due for completion in December 2016.

GC line duplication

Coomera to Helensvale rail – $63.3 million of $163.3 million over four years to duplicate the Gold Coast rail line from Coomera to Helensvale, due for completion in June 2017.

Some DDA station upgrades  ..

Nambour Train Station upgrade – $42.6 million to continue passenger safety and accessibility works, including station upgrade works at Nambour, Alderley, Newmarket, Dinmore, Graceville and detailed design for upgrades at Strathpine, Boondall and Auchenflower train stations.

[ozbob]

http://www.budget.qld.gov.au/budget-papers/documents/bp5-tmr-2015-16.pdf

2015-16 service area highlights

The department will build on its 2014-15 achievements and continue its focus on delivering the Government's
commitments for the people of Queensland, with 2015-16 highlights under this service area to include:

undertaking a fare review of passenger transport services on the TransLink network in south-east Queensland

[ozbob]

    
Media Release
Treasurer, Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
The Honourable Curtis Pitt

A Budget for jobs, health and education

The Palaszczuk Government's first Budget delivers on its election commitments to increase health and education funding – with record budgets for these key service delivery portfolios.

Treasurer Curtis Pitt said the Budget also delivered for those Queenslanders seeking a job by implementing the Government's commitment to the Working Queensland jobs plan.

"A key element of this Budget's $1.6 billion jobs plan is the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, which will support some 32,000 Queenslanders back into work, Mr Pitt said.

"It will create jobs now, and jobs for the future.

"Our Working Queensland jobs plan will help create the conditions for growing jobs and building new businesses," he said.

Mr Pitt said the Working Queensland jobs plan would focus on skills, training and innovative industries to promote jobs, growth and investment.

"It has five key priorities: skills and training, enhancing business productivity, boosting Government services, fostering emerging and innovative industries and growing our regions.

"The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is exactly what the Queensland economy needs – it is designed to return $8 into the economy for every $1 invested.

"The Budget also delivers an additional $34.5 million in funding to restore TAFE over the next four years to ensure more Queenslanders are job-ready.

"To better align skills demand and long-term workforce planning, we will also allocate $40 million to the establishment of Jobs Queensland as an independent statutory authority.

"The Government will play its part, with 10 per cent of the workforce on all Government projects required to be apprentices and trainees. This now applies for the first time to Government Owned Corporations."

Mr Pitt said Queensland Treasury was forecasting a $1.2 billion operating surplus in 2015-16 and $6.9 billion across the forward estimates. These surpluses will help to fund core services across government, including:


• $14.2 billion – record health budget to increase by more than 4 per cent. With the scope of available services and demand increasing, the Government has committed an additional $2.3 billion over four years
• $12.4 billion – record education and training budget for more teachers, support and better classrooms
• $4.8 billion – support for regional and rural Queensland, including $200 million for the Building Our Regions infrastructure fund
• $754.6 million – vocational education and training package
• $500 million – new funding over four years for a statewide Schools and Hospitals
Fund to generate local jobs and boost local economies
• $347 million – Queensland pensioner and Seniors Card holder concessions
• $31.3 million – extra funding over four years to tackle domestic violence
• $30 million – funding over two years towards building a new State Netball Centre.
Mr Pitt said the Budget would also provide important support for business by making good
on our promise to deliver a payroll tax rebate for apprentices and trainees, resulting in an
estimated $45 million in tax savings for businesses to reinvest.

"Small business will be supported via initiatives such as the Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow
fund, which will help stay-at-home parents grow their home-based businesses.

"This is also a Budget that recognises the importance of local infrastructure and local jobs.

"Labor Governments recognise that there are times when economic uplift is required in
order to deliver jobs now. In a decentralised State like Queensland, Government building
projects help deliver employment when and where it's most needed.

"Today's Budget includes a $10.1 billion spend on infrastructure across Queensland this
year, directly supporting an estimated 27,500 jobs.

"It also includes an injection of $500 million in new money over four years for a statewide
Schools and Hospitals Fund.

"Education and health are the backbone of good Labor Budgets and these will be the sorts
of local hospital and school refurbishments that support local jobs."

Mr Pitt said the $180 million Advance Queensland strategy was another Budget initiative
that would deliver jobs now, and jobs for the future.

"This Advance Queensland investment is expected to co-leverage funding and generate
total investment of $300 million.

"It will include programs to deliver new Fellowships and Scholarships to increase research
talent and a Future Jobs Strategy to make Queensland the nation's largest source of
investment for industry-research collaboration projects.

"Jobs now, and jobs for the future. That's what this Budget is about, and that's what it will
deliver."

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

14th July 2015

Re: Queensland Budget 2015

Greetings,

The failure to give concession fares to the unemployed in this budget is a slap in the face to Queensland.

Labor policy in October 2014 clearly states ' ... will maintain public transport concessions and extend them to recipients of the Newstart allowance '

http://www.queenslandlabor.org/wp-content/uploads/2014QldPolicyPlatform_web.pdf 7.60

We do note a committment to a broader fare review for SEQ fares:

http://www.budget.qld.gov.au/budget-papers/documents/bp5-tmr-2015-16.pdf

2015-16 service area highlights

The department will build on its 2014-15 achievements and continue its focus on delivering the Government's
commitments for the people of Queensland, with 2015-16 highlights under this service area to include:

undertaking a fare review of passenger transport services on the TransLink network in south-east Queensland

There is an urgency for concession fares for the unemployed.  This should be done immediately pending the wider fare review process.

There is no new expenditure for rail other than a continuation of projects already in train.

Transport failure is certainly a real challenge in the coming years.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

Sent to all outlets:

14th July 2015

Queensland Budget 2015

Good Morning,

We note the media release Queensland opens door to private infrastructure investors  http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2015/7/13/queensland-opens-door-to-private-infrastructure-investors

Hopefully this augers well for the Gold Coast Light Rail stage 2.

The upgrade of the Sunshine Coast Line - Beerburrum to Landsborough North is an essential project and we hope that this gets funding to proceed in the budget.

Fare reform for SEQ is essential.  Extending concession fares to the unemployed, which is Queensland Labor policy will hopefully be implemented in this budget.

Hopefully a clear indication that a proper fare review process will be embarked upon as well.

Cross River Rail also needs to proceed.  We expect this will take a little longer to work up.

Bus network reform for Brisbane is also urgently needed.  This is effectively a cost neutral process and needs to proceed immediately and is really not directly linked to the budget, other than an improved network will in turn mean more passengers and an improved fare box.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[Stillwater]

DDA compliance project at Nambour is a stop-start project, depending on which government is in power.  Someone has pushed the 'go' button again.

lol@ inclusion of a cross-river rail project 'consistent with the original CRR concept' is included as a line item in the Budget, with no dollars allocated against it.  Perhaps it is meant to fund itself!

[verbatim9]

Looks like the Government is in a holding pattern and transferring contract public servants onto their books making them full or part time employees. Fare restructure (weekend caps and Healthcare Card concessions would of been a good start). Plus why the huge surplus does it make them look good for the swinging voters that go back and forth from Libs to Labor?

[ozbob]

http://www.budget.qld.gov.au/budget-papers/documents/bp5-tmr-2015-16.pdf

Department of Transport and Main   Target/Est.2014-15 Est.       Actual      2015-16 Target/Est.

[ozbob]

SEQ is headed for complete failure ..

Their patronage projections clearly indicate they have thrown the towel in.

Westlander and Inlander are gone. 

Cannot manage any figures for bus performance ... 

All in all just a big game of charades ...

[ozbob]

DDA compliance project at Nambour is a stop-start project, depending on which government is in power.  Someone has pushed the 'go' button again.

lol@ inclusion of a cross-river rail project 'consistent with the original CRR concept' is included as a line item in the Budget, with no dollars allocated against it.  Perhaps it is meant to fund itself!

The question is re Nambour is ' will the present mob last long enough for the job to be done ' ? 

We could add numerous line items just like CRR  ... maglev to Maroochy, light rail Queen St Goodna ...  we could go on ...

" Hey, it is in the budget! "  " Don't worry, it is in the budget! "    



   

[verbatim9]

Train station upgrades – $42.6 million to continue passenger safety and accessibility works, including station upgrade works at Nambour, Alderley, Newmarket, Dinmore, Graceville and detailed design for upgrades at Strathpine, Boondall and Auchenflower train stations.

[verbatim9]

Yeerongpilly development – $5.2 million to continue the Yeerongpilly transit oriented development project, in partnership with the private sector.

[BrizCommuter]

Train station upgrades – $42.6 million to continue passenger safety and accessibility works, including station upgrade works at Nambour, Alderley, Newmarket, Dinmore, Graceville and detailed design for upgrades at Strathpine, Boondall and Auchenflower train stations.

Ha ha, the Alderley upgrade has been banded about for years. A "vapour project" if ever there was one.

[ozbob]

Goodna rail subway has some nice murals these days.  Home of the Jacaranda Festival did you know?

[#Metro]

Train station upgrades – $42.6 million to continue passenger safety and accessibility works, including station upgrade works at Nambour, Alderley, Newmarket, Dinmore, Graceville and detailed design for upgrades at Strathpine, Boondall and Auchenflower train stations.

Does this include full height platforms and straightening? Or just a reinforcement of the status quo?

[#Metro]

What is Brizcommuter's verdict of the State Budget?

[ozbob]

Train station upgrades – $42.6 million to continue passenger safety and accessibility works, including station upgrade works at Nambour, Alderley, Newmarket, Dinmore, Graceville and detailed design for upgrades at Strathpine, Boondall and Auchenflower train stations.

Does this include full height platforms and straightening? Or just a reinforcement of the status quo?

No idea ... has anyone?  I expect at the money amounts it is not straightening but may include platform raising ..

I am pleased that Auchenflower has made a list of DDA upgrades.  Lots of hospital pax etc.

[#Metro]

I think bus reform will survive the budget, and is more important than ever. You could still do bus reform even with an allocation of $0.00!!! 

[ozbob]

Yes, bus reform is still in play. 

[SurfRail]

Looks like the Government is in a holding pattern and transferring contract public servants onto their books making them full or part time employees. Fare restructure (weekend caps and Healthcare Card concessions would of been a good start). Plus why the huge surplus does it make them look good for the swinging voters that go back and forth from Libs to Labor?

The surplus will be going to pay down debt.