‘Delivering for Queensland’ was the tagline of the day for the Crisafulli Government’s 2025-26 Budget, released today.

With a $8.6 billion deficit outlined by The Honourable David Janetzki MP Treasurer, it will deliver a record-breaking $116.8 billion infrastructure program aimed at long-term growth and housing supply as well as Olympic readiness and legacy-building.

Coal royalties flatlining and GST woes were blamed for low state revenue projections and the need to tackle what Mr Janetzki has called the four “big crises” of delivering health for Qld, crime prevention, cost-of-living relief and housing affordability.

Budget Snapshot By Sector

Olympic & Community Infrastructure

Total $7.1B Games Delivery Plan, including:

• $3.8 billion for the total venues program including new 63,000-seat stadium at Victoria Park
• $847 million to go to Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre, Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre, Barlow Park Stadium and Logan Indoor Sports Centre projects.
• Increased funding of $308.5 million over four years for the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority to progress with a delivery partner consistent with the recommendation in the 100 Day Review and deliver, on behalf of Government, new and upgraded venues.
• An initial provision of $950 million over four years out of a total State investment of $3.5 billion for the delivery of athlete villages with the private sector, including the Brisbane Athlete Village and RNA showground upgrade, the Sunshine Coast Athletes Village incorporating the Sunshine Coast arena, and the Gold Coast and Rockhampton Athlete Village.

Transport & Connectivity

$41.7 billion for new and upgraded roads and rail projects targeting flood-resilient roads and congestion-improvement projects, including:

• $9 billion Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program that restores 80:20 funding for the Bruce Highway and delivers safety upgrades, with the first 16 projects already in planning or under construction.
• $5.5 billion The Wave: Heavy rail to Birtinya and metro to Sunshine Coast Airport.
• $5.75 billion Faster Rail to the Gold Coast, jointly funded with the Commonwealth.
• The Safer Roads, Better Transport Plan including Barron River Bridge, the Bribie Island Bridge, the Caloundra Congestion Busting Plan and Mooloolah River Interchange.
• $100 million Country Roads Connect program to boost the safety and flood resilience of regional unsealed roads.
• $27.5 million for the Schools Transport Infrastructure Program to improve the safety and operation of schools across Queensland.
• $15 million for the Keeping Our Waterways Safe program (formally War on Wrecks)
• $2.2 million to remove the fee for a new Disability Parking Permit to deliver on our election commitment and provide cost of living relief.

Health and Hospitals

• $18.5 billion Hospital Rescue Plan delivers three new hospitals – Toowoomba, Bundaberg, Coomera – 10 upgrades and expanded health facilities across the State that equates to more than 2,600 new beds statewide.

Trade and Training

$1.6 billion Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Budget to address shortages and workforce skills gaps including:

• $5 million in 2025-26 to help Queensland businesses expand into new international markets and strengthen existing trade relationships.
• $201.1 million into new TAFE Centres of Excellence over four years.
• $20 million Returning To Work program with grants to help cover the cost of transitioning back to work for women after having children, caring for family or illness.
• $10 million for Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s
• $50 million to leverage the National Skills Agreement
• Funding to support the Regional Jobs Committee program for another 2 years to help close skills gaps in critical industries.

Housing & Urban Development

• $2 billion Residential Activation Fund to unlock land and fast-track housing developments, with 50% allocated to regional Queensland.
• $5.6 billion for social and community housing, targeting 53,500 new homes by 2044.
• $165 million ‘Boost to Buy’ shared equity scheme to help first home buyers enter the market.
• Stamp duty abolished for first home buyers on new builds.
• $366 million for crisis accommodation and a 20% uplift for homelessness services.

Energy

• $2.4 billion CopperString transmission line to connect North Queensland to the grid.
• $1.6 billion Electricity Maintenance Guarantee to reduce power bills and maintain generation assets.
• $479.2 million Brigalow Gas Peaker Project and funding for pumped hydro projects at Borumba, Mt Rawdon and Capricornia.
• $180.6M fund supporting defence, biofuels and biomedical industries under the Sovereign Industry Development Fund.
• Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro project scrapped.
• BPICs paused on uncontracted projects.

Local Government and Water Security

• $37.7 million to commence Water for Warrill, new Barlil, Cooranga weirs and new or upgraded Thompson River weirs.
• $200m over two years to make Works for Queensland permanent, beginning in 2027–28, with $100m in annual funding ongoing.
• $4m to review water sources for South East Queensland, and $1.5 million to support the “unlocking water project” that will review Queensland’s 23 regional water plans to make more water available for economic development.
• $41.2m for water, sewerage infrastructure upgrades in First Nations communities.
• $34m reallocated from Closing the Gap Priorities fund to improve water infrastructure in Kowanyama, Aurukun and Woorabinda.

Resources, Manufacturing and Regional

• $79.1 million for new Transforming Queensland Manufacturing Program to boost innovation and high-value job creation.
• $10 million new Manufacturing Hub in Toowoomba and an additional hub on the Sunshine Coast to strengthen regional manufacturing capabilities.
• $4.8 billion towards Queensland Train Manufacturing Program
• $5.1 million to enhance mineral exploration to identify new resource opportunities across Queensland.
• $8.5 million towards preparation activities for the operation of the Queensland Resources Common User Facility to support project development and accelerate investment in critical minerals.
• $117.8 million for the delivery of expanded Natural Resource Management funding to boost biodiversity programs.
• $31.1 million over four years to lead development of 13 new regional plans catering for housing and economic growth, in partnership with local governments

Sector Impacts: Workforce, Consultants & Delays

• Queensland Government Consulting Service (QGCS) launches July 1 to reduce reliance on external consultants, targeting $6.8 billion in savings by 2028–29.
• Public service executive hiring freeze until 2028, but overall FTEs will grow by 10,000+ in 2025–26.
• $100 million shortfall in promised consultancy savings this year raises concerns about delivery timelines and internal capacity.
• Project delays and scope changes are being used to manage the budget.

Budget Risks & Sector Outlook

• $2.3 billion GST revenue reduction and depletion of the Long Term Asset Fund leave little buffer in coming years.
• Wage growth assumptions 3–3.75%

While other states are slowing down project planning and project spend, Queensland is launching itself on an ambitious infrastructure pipeline to take advantage of the coming 2032 legacy-building opportunities of the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.  The 2025-26 budget, released today, is aiming for generational change across housing, transport, energy and Olympic legacy. But with a record deficit, project delays and fiscal pressures looming, the challenge now lies in delivery.