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The Queensland Government’s 2023/24 budget has been released with cost-of-living relief a major focus of future spending.

Handed down yesterday, the budget includes new measures for tourism live music venues and support for community sport and families while also confirming previously announced commitments to infrastructure for the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.

Key announcements include:

Tourism
• Increased funding of $15 million over two years to provide financial support to eligible Queensland tourism operators, not-for-profit organisations and local governments to deliver new and enhanced tourism infrastructure or experiences through the Growing Future Tourism Program.
• Additional funding of $10 million over two years to support the delivery of the Bush Boost and Queensland’s long term Towards Tourism 2032: Transforming Queensland’s visitor economy future tourism industry strategy by providing support for the development of new and enhanced tourism products or supporting infrastructure that will increase visitation in Queensland’s regions outside South East Queensland.
• Release of $3 million centrally-held funds in 2024/25, matched by a co-contribution from the Australian Government, to improve the quality of First Nations tourism experiences, deliver a range of initiatives and new events and support employment across Queensland.

With the state having already achieved $34 billion in annual overnight visitor expenditure this year, Tourism and Events Queensland's base funding will continue to be supported with $125 million in 2024/25, as the Queensland Government backs its lead marketing agency to drive demand.

Commenting on the commitments, Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) advised that it “welcomes investment in economic development and key infrastructure projects” but expressed disappointment that the budget is “light on support measures for small business and tourism.”

Sport
• $200 FairPlay vouchers available for Queensland children aged 5-17 to help families with the cost of junior sport.
• $9.5 million in funding for community sports facilities.
• Successful Youth Development Partnership Fund receives $3 million boost to help prevent crime through community sport initiatives.
• $137 million in continued support to develop tourism experiences and infrastructure and market Queensland nationally and internationally.
• Families paying junior sport costs will receive cost of living relief, with the Miles Government committing an extra $33.5 million to expand the FairPlay program for all Queensland children aged 5-17, boosting the voucher value to $200.

The additional funding boosts the FairPlay program to $40 million for 2024-2025, with the number of vouchers available increasing from 50,000 to 200,000.

The value of each voucher is also increasing from $150 to $200, to help reduce the cost of sports memberships, registration and participation fees for families.

The program will open on 1st July 2024 with vouchers able to be redeemed until June 2025.

2032 Games and Infrastructure
The Games authority tasked with delivering an infrastructure plan for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games has received $62 million in the Queensland budget.

$31 million will be spent by the Queensland Government in 2024/2025 for the preparation of additional project validation reports and establishment costs for the Games Venue and Legacy Delivery Authority.

The Queensland Government has outlined $560 million in the budget for works "in procurement", $42 million for the Brisbane Aquatic Centre and $142 million for Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre.

Queensland Treasurer, Cameron Dick advised “in keeping with our government's response to the sport venue review, the venues infrastructure program includes the upgrading of Queensland State Athletics Centre, the refurbishment of the Gabba and Suncorp Stadium, and the construction of Brisbane arena.”

Arts
In arts, the budget includes a $1.6 million funding package to support the Queensland music industry.

This follows the announcement of the appointment of a dedicated Nighttime Economy Commissioner to help the industry navigate its current challenges.

The funding arrives as Brisbane music venues Can You Keep A Secret and It’s Still A Secret have urgently called on the local community for help to avoid closure, and after The Zoo announced its imminent closure after 32 years.

The budget also revealed that the cost of rebuilding and extending the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) on Brisbane’s South Bank had risen by a further $9 million, taking the total cost of the project to $189 million.

The new performing arts venue at QPAC was announced in 2018 and was originally set to open in 2022 at a cost of $150 million.

When completed, QPAC will feature five venues.

Click here for more information on the Queensland budget. 

Image: Concept for the completed Queensland Performing Arts Centre.

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