Queensland State Budget 2013/2014

[ozbob]

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

2013-14 State Budget

The Treasurer and Minister for Trade, the Honourable Tim Nicholls, will hand down the State Budget on Tuesday, 4 June 2013.

[ozbob]

https://lnp.org.au/events/queensland-state-budget-lunch-201314/

Queensland State Budget Lunch 2013/14

[Jonno]

Here is my prediction.  Not a cent reduction in road expenditure if not an increase and all public transport projects canned!!! When your Premier LOVES/WORSHIPS roads its what you get. 

[#Metro]

I thought the budget consisted of wheeling an empty kitchen cupboad into parliament and then opening it to reveal its lack of contents. 

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2013/5/26/newman-government-delays-surplus-due-to-revenue-losses

Treasurer and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Tim Nicholls
Sunday, May 26, 2013

Newman Government delays surplus due to revenue losses

Tough economic circumstances, coupled with significant write downs in government revenue, mean the Queensland budget will not return to surplus until 2015-16, Treasurer Tim Nicholls said today.

Mr Nicholls said governments across Australia were being hit by the massive falls in revenue.

"As an example, land tax is down 6.4 per cent in Queensland- the first time a fall has been recorded since 1996-97," he said.

"Gaming revenue from casinos has also fallen by 2.8 per cent since the last budget."

Mr Nicholls said the Government had experienced falls in revenue of $4.5 billion since coming to office.

He said royalties and tax revenue would be written down by a further $1.2 billion for the 2013-14 year, and GST would be $531 million less over the next four years.

"Adding to this, the demands on the Government for the rebuilding task after the January natural disasters, means there will be little spending outside the core services of education, health and community services," Mr Nicholls said.

Mr Nicholls said next week's 2013-14 State Budget would be in deficit by more than $7 billion.

"Instead of returning to fiscal surplus in 2014-15 as we had aimed, a small deficit of about $300 million will also be projected," he said.

"Given the loss of revenue and the rebuilding task, we are making the balanced and responsible decision is to delay reaching a fiscal surplus in 2014-15.

"The delay will mean the Government won't have to raise taxes or cut spending by as much and it will support further economic growth.

"The budget will get the balance right between repairing the State's finances, rebuilding after natural disasters, funding core services and growing the economy.

"With two budget deficits totalling more than $16 billion in just over 12 months (2012-13 and 2013-14), no one can deny the budget position is unsustainable.

"No one can deny there is a debt and deficit problem. Nor can they claim that business as usual is an option or that reform is not necessary."

[ENDS] 26 May 2013

[#Metro]

does the last sentence apply to brisbane transport?

[Stillwater]

Interesting, even though the state government has looked the CRR gift horse in the mouth, ostensibly because GST revenue would be affected, without CRR, GST revenue will be down $531 million over four years.  Is this the so-called 'GST shortfall' that Queensland says it would have been hit with had it accepted the Commonwealth offer for CRR?  In other words, it was not a shortfall created by the CRR funding deal that was on offer, but is due to Queensland having an unaltered share of a diminishing GST pie.  Seems Queensland was trying to balance the $531 million GST shortfall by trying to get a monetary sweetener added to the CRR deal that had been worked up at departmental level.

Maybe Queensland could get more land tax if it developed residential hubs around transport nodes and rail corridors.

Oh wait, we don't want more people catching trains, because that will require more trains, which we don't have, and more track capacity, which is in short supply due to the cancellation of CRR.  Let's discourage less PT usage by jacking up the fares and tell everyone we are doing a good job because the fare hike would have been twice as high under Labor.

Higher fares means fewer numbers of people travelling by rail -- so our instinct to build more traffic lanes is justified.

Queenslander logic!   

[ozbob]

The Liberal Party of Victoria is having a " revival " meeting this weekend ..

The Premier is getting a little concerned down there ...

====================

Twitter

Andrew Lund Andrew Lund ‏@andrew_lund 3h

Denis Napthine says he wants to bust the myth that Lib/Nat govt does not support public transport. Says that's "absolutely untrue" #springst

[Stillwater]

Lol, the LNP here would need Billy Graham and God on their side to stage a similar 'revival' meeting and hope for success.

[ozbob]

The Vic Liberal Conference has moved that Southern Cross Station (name) be changed back to Spencer Street Station ...





The Spirit of Progress departs Spencer Street Station inaugural run 1937.  Always good to see progress ...

[Mr X]

I hereby decree that the LNP be renamed to the Lying Nutters Party

ALP should be Always Lying Party.

Suits both well

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Newman Government ditches flood levy plan during final Budget deliberations

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Flood levy and power rebate scrapped

[ozbob]

The sell and softening up continues ...

=======================

Treasurer and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Tim Nicholls

Revenue collapse drives budget measures

The Newman Government will implement a number of measures in the coming State Budget to try to counter the effects of falling government revenue, to ensure it has the funds to rebuild after the January 2013 natural disasters and to fund core services.

Treasurer Tim Nicholls said the Government has experienced revenue falls of $4.5 billion since coming to office and general taxation in the 2013-14 budget will be written down a further $1.2 billion, with GST receipts down $531 million over the forward years.

Mr Nicholls said there were really only three choices available to Government: increased taxes, lower services or higher debt which results in increasing interest payments.

"In that climate, if we're going to maintain the key government services that Queenslanders want, we have to take measures to stem the loss of government income," Mr Nicholls said.

"We are operating in tough economic circumstances where areas including land tax and gaming revenue receipts are falling."

Mr Nicholls said the Government had settled on a number of Budget measures which include:

·         Changing the fire levy to an emergency management, fire and rescue levy, which will be applied to all rateable properties.  The levy will increase by 6.5 per cent from 1 January, 2014 amounting to an additional $11.20 for a metropolitan household.

·         Increasing the insurance duty on general insurance products from 7 to 9 per cent to assist the state in funding the NDIS (Disability Care Australia). On a policy for a $300,000 home with $75,000 contents the increase will be $25 per year.

·         Deferring for two years the planned increases in the payroll tax threshold.  This will save the government $235 million.

·         Not introducing a flood levy

·         Not providing households or businesses with a rebate for increased electricity prices outside the increases in the existing concessions.

"The Government has looked at a range of options," he said.

"It didn't make much sense to introduce a flood levy and then pay a rebate for electricity, effectively taking with one hand and giving with the other.

"The Government will still spend around $136 million in 2013-14 to assist Queensland pensioner and concession card holders, Senior's card and Repatriation card holders with their electricity bills.

"The Budget will also include an increase in the home energy emergency assistance scheme for low income households which will double to $10 million

"We'll also ensure the community service obligation to keep rural and regional power prices the same as in the city will be funded at a cost of $615 million.

Mr Nicholls said all Queenslanders benefit from the work of Emergency Management Queensland and, to ensure a sustainable funding base for the service, the levy will be extended to all rateable properties.

"The additional revenue will be used to help offset the cost of emergency management but it will not fully recoup the cost of running these services.

"Since the fire levy was first introduced almost two decades ago, the equipment needed and the expertise involved in delivering emergency services has grown substantially.

"In just the last few years thousands of Queenslanders have experienced firsthand the benefits of having well-resourced emergency services."

Mr Nicholls said he understood the insurance duty measures would have an impact on policy holders across the board but the Government had tried to keep the impact to a minimum.

"These are difficult decisions, but we have tried to take a measured approach that limits the impacts while still allowing the Government to deliver the services Queenslanders want," he said.

"Businesses which had been anticipating the increase in the payroll tax threshold will also bear some of the burden.

"The government is very conscious of the effects on households and businesses.

"We have tried to limit those effects while tackling the rebuilding task after the January natural disasters and finding funding for the NDIS and education reform."

Mr Nicholls said the Budget to be brought down next week would strike the right balance and continue the fiscal repair task aimed at bringing Government debt under control while growing the State's economy.

[ENDS] 27 May 2013

[#Metro]

And how much $$$ is Brisbane Transport burning up by driving air all around the entire city?

Oh that's right. Carte blanch on that one.

Stop listening to politicians. Look at what they do instead. Action tells you where it's at.

[Jonno]

The underlying problem that does not really get discussed is that we have built our cities and economy in a form that requires a lot of existing Govt expenditure, operating costs and/or subsidies to be spent with a negative return on investment or worse a nett cost We are spending money to ensure we need to spend more money in the future!!

It is just madness but never discussed.

[Golliwog]

So they got elected after spouting a whole heap of "Lowering the cost of living" political prattle, then turn around and increase various costs. 

I'm not saying we don't need to increase some taxes/levies etc, but it's a bit hard to justify it to the community when you spent the entire lead up to the State Election saying you were all about lowering the cost of living.

[Jonno]

So they got elected after spouting a whole heap of "Lowering the cost of living" political prattle, then turn around and increase various costs. 

I'm not saying we don't need to increase some taxes/levies etc, but it's a bit hard to justify it to the community when you spent the entire lead up to the State Election saying you were all about lowering the cost of living.

Plus everything they are investing in is driving up cost. More car dependant, more trauma, more health cost, less affordable housing, more fossil fuel use, etc., etc.

[#Metro]

So they got elected after spouting a whole heap of "Lowering the cost of living" political prattle, then turn around and increase various costs.

Golliwog, you are right, this whole thing is a farce and a SCAM.
SCAM!!

What you do is promise a whole heap of freebies, which doesn't solve any of the structural problems and causes a big budget hole (think 9 then free, power freebies, rego freebies), then use the said budget hole created by said freebies to retract said freebies post election.

This isn't about proper public transport, cheaper fares, better network etc, this is about politicians serving their own self serving interests which are:

1. Get their face in the media and make as much noise as possible to get noticed
2. Chase power, at any cost and someone else's expense (us)
3. Make a whole heap of problems that will require yet more squawking and gawking, multiple studies to make consultant donors / engineering companies / public relations companies rich so that they can donate to their next political campaign
4. Chase votes and disinterested voters

[Stillwater]

C-M today says the state budget will cost the average Queensland household an extra $600 a year.  No wonder they scrapped the idea of a flood infrastructure recovery levy.  But the budget will be very, very tight ... even counting the biros and sheets of toilet paper each employee uses. lol, well, maybe not that far.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Labor warns of 'broken promises' in state budget

... He said a 7.5 per cent cap on public transport fares also stood, as well as the free travel after nine weekly journeys Go Card concession and the removal of the waste levy ...

Affordability crisis continues ...  a complete review of the fare system is needed ...

[ozbob]

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

http://m.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/queenslands-transport-spending-revealed-20130604-2nnjr.html

[ozbob]

JOINT STATEMENT
Treasurer and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Tim Nicholls
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson

State Budget drives public transport

The Newman Government has listened to community feedback and will not alter the existing eligibility criteria associated with the taxi subsidy scheme for people with a disability.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said $8 million had been saved across the portfolio to ensure the scheme remained unchanged.

"A strong case was put forward by those who benefit from the scheme and I'm pleased we've been able to find the savings to continue to deliver the service," Mr Emerson said.

"It comes on top of a $2.1 billion commitment to public transport across Queensland as part of the 2013-14 State Budget.

"This public transport budget is the first to integrate the whole of Queensland, following the changes to TransLink which occurred from January this year."

Treasurer Tim Nicholls said a well resourced and well organised public transport system was important to Queensland's productivity.

"The Government is working to ensure that Queenslanders have the effective and efficient services they expect and need," Mr Nicholls said.

Mr Emerson said all forms of transport would benefit from funding increases.

"We've allocated $645 million to fund bus, ferry, coach and air services across Queensland, which is an increase of nearly $30 million on last year," he said.

"The Budget also delivers the integration of Southern Moreton Bay Island ferry services onto TransLink's go card network from July 1.

"The program to double the number of Senior Network Officers on the network in South East Queensland is funded, providing passenger safety and targeting fare evasion.

"A further $51 million has been allocated for infrastructure to improve interchanges and access to public transport."

Key infrastructure projects to be delivered include:

·         $2 million in 2013-14 to improve disability access across the network

·         $8 million in 2013-14 redevelopment of the Browns Plains Bus Station

·         $10 million in 2013-14 for new bus stations at Redland Bay Marina and Victoria Point Jetty

·         $5 million in 2013-14 for construction of a new bus station at Deception Bay

·         $3 million in 2013-14 towards construction of a new bus station in Cairns CBD

·         $2 million in 2013-14 for bus stop capacity improvements at Carindale and Toombul bus stations.

[ENDS] 4 June 2013

[Fares_Fair]

Ms Nolan...

"the fare strategy also aimed to return the State Government's per-trip subsidy from 75 per cent back to 70 per cent within five years. To help reach that goal fares will increase 15% a year from 2011 to 2014 – or around 40 cents to 60 cents a year for a typical two-zone ticket.".

[ozbob]

This concession incorporates Government decisions to introduce free gocard travel each
week after nine trips in that week and to increase fares by 7.5% in 2014 and 2015

Page 27 http://budget.qld.gov.au/budget-papers/2013-14/concessions-statement-2013-14.pdf

Have confirmed this is an error.  7.5% is only to 2014 ...

[ozbob]

Ms Nolan...

"the fare strategy also aimed to return the State Government's per-trip subsidy from 75 per cent back to 70 per cent within five years. To help reach that goal fares will increase 15% a year from 2011 to 2014 – or around 40 cents to 60 cents a year for a typical two-zone ticket.".

And I believe has been a complete failure with the subsidy remaining at or above 75%. The way to improve the subsidy is more bums on seats in off-peak and peak services  with spare capacity.

Agree there RTT.  Abject failure indeed ...

[#Metro]

Have confirmed this is an error.  7.5% is only to 2014 ...

Freudian slip perhaps?

The way to improve the subsidy is more bums on seats in off-peak and peak services  with spare capacity.

Simply redrawing the BT bus network would have had great effect.

[ozbob]

Hello  hello ...

http://budget.qld.gov.au/budget-papers/2013-14/bp3-3-2013-14.pdf

TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS
In 2013-14, total capital purchases for the Transport and Main Roads portfolio is
$5.599 billion, including capital grants of $214.5 million. The portfolio includes the
Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Rail Limited, Far North
Queensland Ports Corporation Limited, Gladstone Ports Corporation Limited, North
Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation Limited, Port of Townsville Limited, RoadTek
and the Gold Coast Waterways Authority.
Department of Transport and Main Roads
In 2013-14, capital purchases total $4.369 billion towards critical infrastructure
investments across the State and a further $214.5 million is provided as capital grants.
The Queensland Government is committed to delivering transport infrastructure that
supports Queensland's growing population.
Program Highlights (Property, Plant and Equipment)
$1.934 billion towards capital recovery and reconstruction works resulting from
natural disaster events throughout the State over the last three years.
$178.8 million to continue the construction of the Gold Coast Rapid Transit
System, a light rail project extending from Southport to Broadbeach, at a total
estimated cost of $1.296 billion, which is jointly Australian, Queensland and
local government funded, to be delivered as a public private partnership.
$170.6 million towards the construction of the Moreton Bay Rail Link, a
dual-track passenger rail line from Petrie Station to Kippa-Ring Station, at a total
estimated cost of $1.147 billion, which is jointly Australian, Queensland and
local government funded.
$65 million towards the duplication of the Bruce Highway (Cooroy to Curra)
from Cooroy Southern Interchange to Sankeys Road (Section A). The State
contribution towards the $790 million upgrade of the Cooroy to Curra section of
the Bruce Highway is the first project to be funded under the $1 billion Bruce
Highway State election commitment.
$45.8 million to continue the construction of auxiliary lanes on the Centenary
Motorway, adjacent to the Darra to Springfield rail project, at a total estimated
cost of $90.1 million.
$33.7 million to complete the construction of a deviation between Sandy Corner
and Collinsons Lagoon on the Bruce Highway, between Ayr and Townsville, at a
total estimated cost of $50 million, which is jointly Australian and Queensland
Government funded.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Capital Statement 2013-14 105

$15.8 million to continue the extension of the South East Busway from Eight
Mile Plains Station to Priestdale Road, Rochedale South, at a total estimated cost
of $35.8 million.
Program Highlights (Capital Grants)
$31.8 million of transport infrastructure development grants for upgrades to local
government controlled roads.
$54.4 million as part of the $128.4 million commitment to fund the upgrade of
key rail crossings at Telegraph Road, Bracken Ridge and Robinson Road,
Geebung, in partnership with Brisbane City Council.
$22.6 million to upgrade school bus fleets across Queensland.
$13.7 million towards the development of cycle networks throughout
Queensland.
$12.1 million to provide improvements for sites with identified safety concerns,
funded under the Australian Government Black Spot program.
$ 2.3 million as part of the $7.5 million commitment over four years towards the
installation of flashing lights in school zones.
Gold Coast Waterways Authority
In 2013-14, $8.9 million is allocated to the Gold Coast Waterways Authority to
oversee and improve access to Gold Coast waterways, canals and rivers.
Queensland Rail Limited
In 2013-14, $797.6 million is allocated towards capital outlays for Queensland Rail.
Program Highlights (Property, Plant and Equipment)
$151.7 million is provided to deliver new and upgrade existing rollingstock across
Queensland, including:
$110 million towards the New Generation Rollingstock program
$30.7 million towards the Sunlander Rollingstock replacement
$11 million towards Automatic Train Protection to prevent unsafe situations on
interurban carriages.
A further $645.9 million is provided towards capital infrastructure upgrades,
including:
$68.4 million towards construction of a third track from Lawton to Petrie, at a
total estimated cost of $168.6 million
________________________________________________________________________________________
106 Capital Statement 2013-14

$50.8 million to continue construction of a 9.5 kilometre new dual rail track on
the Springfield Line, from Richlands to Springfield, at a total estimated cost of
$384.9 million
$3.7 million to continue construction of a third track between Corinda and Darra,
at a total estimated cost of $218 million.

[BrizCommuter]

The BrizCommuter word on the 2013 state budget.
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/2013-qld-state-budget-fails-public.html

[ozbob]

$3.7 million to continue construction of a third track between Corinda and Darra,

[techblitz]

Have confirmed this is an error.  7.5% is only to 2014 ...

Which will only lead to further failure.

I'm sure if I was able to get the data from Translink I could produce a graph that shows the patroage levels are now on the start of steep part of the down curve with the inverse curve on fares. ie the patronage levels are now extremely senstive to fares and that even a slight rise will lead to a significant reduction in users.

Go for it then.
Im sure a lot on this forum would be keen to see where the lost patronage is coming from. Would also put a few theories to rest. My hunch as outlined before is the patronage decrease on trains will outstrip patronage decrease on buses as prices go up.
This is a concern if they ever want to grow partronage out springfield way.Outer suburb budgets will be pushed to the limits as commuters struggle with combined vehicle & PT costs. Inner city busway commuters who dont own a vehicle dont feel the pinch as much.

[ozbob]

Yes Techblitz, patronage suggests long haulers are either car-ing it all or part of the way ...  I think there will be a marked increase in lunch time one stop bus journeys .. lol

Apart from the fare fail,

there are some bright spots in a tight budget ...  not as bad as it was looking.

[Golliwog]

Yes Techblitz, patronage suggests long haulers are either car-ing it all or part of the way ...  I think there will be a marked increase in lunch time one stop bus journeys .. lol

Apart from the fare fail,

there are some bright spots in a tight budget ...  not as bad as it was looking.

What do you mean lunch time? The guy next to me goes out 3 or 4 times during the day Monday/Tuesday so he's getting free trips to and from the GC for most of the week.

[Gazza]

$3.7 million to continue construction of a third track between Corinda and Darra,

Maybe some other works were packaged in...kinda like how the expensive south morang extension was really a full line upgrade.

At Graceville there is a new portal supporting a signal for instance.

[ozbob]

Yes, I was thinking might have been for finishing Oxley station etc.  Recently resurfaced ...

[ozbob]

Media release 5th June 2013



Queensland:  State Budget 2013/14 - some good news some not so good news

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said the 2013/2014 budget has some good news and some bad news for public and active transport (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"A number of public transport infrastructure projects continue, for example Moreton Bay Rail Link, Gold Coast Light Railway.  There are also some other important initiatives such as bus stations and a busway extension, as well as support for active transport. Some track and signalling upgrades are also flagged. All this is essential to correctly position the public and active  transport network."

"Of major concern though is the fare fail stalemate for SEQ."

"The present 5 year fare path has been a failure (2). When introduced  in 2010 the high fare increase regime was designed to reduce the State Government fare subsidy from 75% to 70%.  Go Card fare increases of 20% in 2010, followed by 15% in 2011 and 2012, with 7.5% in 2013 and as projected in the budget for 2013/14 a further 7.5% has failed.  These massive fare increases have been even greater for paper tickets.  What this has done has driven patronage down and fare affordability has never been worse."

"Rather then continuing with the present 5 year fare path, it is time to introduce a new fare system, that makes public transport first choice, and actually improves the fare box."

"The Premier in the six month action plan released January this year, flagged a new fare structure for public transport in SEQ (3).  There is no sign of this in the budget."

"Fixing the fare system will actually generate more fare box, generate very significant macro economic benefits in terms of congestion improvements, road trauma costs reduced, lessened environmental impacts.  In so doing also achieve a reduction in the subsidy and improve things financially."

"The present fares are a massive failure. Time it was fixed, urgently."

References:

1. http://budget.qld.gov.au/budget-papers/2013-14/bp3-3-2013-14.pdf

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9292.msg125413#msg125413

3. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9502.msg117185#msg117185

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Rail plan hidden in budget fine print

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Brisbane's slice of capital funding mapped out

[somebody]

$68.4 million towards construction of a third track from Lawton to Petrie, at a
total estimated cost of $168.6 million

Yet another high-ish priced rail infrastructure project which will deliver little to nothing, and will be half baked and likely better quadded if the NWTC goes through.

[mufreight]

$68.4 million towards construction of a third track from Lawton to Petrie, at a
total estimated cost of $168.6 million

Yet another high-ish priced rail infrastructure project which will deliver little to nothing, and will be half baked and likely better quadded if the NWTC goes through.

One would hope that the bridge will be constructed for two rather than one track allowing for future quading of the line between Petrie and Northgate, even if done in stages.