Madam Speaker, I rise today to share my take on this year’s budget and what this means for the residents of Barron River and Far North Queensland.
For far too long, the F in Far North Queensland stood for Forgotten. We have long been overlooked when it comes to meaningful investment from the State. We’ve felt it — in our roads, in our health services, in housing, and in the support our communities and industries need to thrive.
The list of projects neglected in my region is long.
- Long overdue upgrades to roads and bridges.
- A hospital which needs investment, a safe helipad and more parking.
- Sporting Clubs that don’t even have a club house, adequate changerooms for females or proper lighting for night games and training.
We also lacked investment in the environment, housing, and in mental health services.
There is a lot of work to do in Far North Queensland.
One of the key reasons I put my hand up to run for Parliament was because I could see that FNQ wasn’t getting its fair share — and I knew that had to change.
That’s why I am pleased to see this year’s State Budget take a real step in the right direction.
This budget is a responsible budget, and a first step to rectifying the fiscal vandalism of the former Labor Government.
I’m pleased to see all of my key election commitments have been honoured, and there are a lot of extra’s in the budget that I wasn’t expecting.
Let me start with one of the most significant commitments in this Budget for my electorate — and that is the funding for a brand-new Barron River Bridge.
This is something I have been rallying for 500 + days.
Or if you ask Minister Mickelberg, I’ve been his little haemorrhoid.
I want to thank Minister Mickelberg who has listened to my community. During my campaign he travelled to Cairns on several occasions to view the Barron River Bridge, he and the Premier then fought hard for 50:50 funding with the Federal Government to save the state from paying 80:20 funding.
I sincerely thank the cabinet and especially the Minister for putting our FNQ region at the forefront in this state’s budget.
To everyone in our community who reached out, who shared their concerns, who called for action for over a decade — thank you.
I know that this investment is not going to ease your pain for a few years yet while the bridge goes through the lengthy planning and building phase, but it’s another step forward.
The second thing people ask is “what about the range”- I am pleased to also see more funding in the budget to improve the Kuranda Range. We still have another 18 months of repair work to the range to get it back pre-Jasper floods. I am pleased there is another $262.5 million funding in the budget that will begin to improve the range and make the road more resilient.
Other key infrastructure projects in the Far North will also come to light in this years’ budget including upgrades to the Western Arterial Road. This is one of the busiest roads, and vital during flood events, and daily during the morning and evening commute.
The Bruce Highway is also set for a much-needed upgrade which was made even more evident in January this year when our region was cut off from the rest of Australia, becoming an island for weeks.
This commitment to safer regional roads means better access for our trucks, our tourists, and our locals.
I am also pleased our government has a huge focus on getting more people into owning their own homes. The extension of the $30 thousand dollar first homeowners grant, abolishing of Stamp duty, allowing first home owners to rent out a room to help pay off their mortgage, and the new nation leading Boost To Buy deposit scheme will be a game changer- and I know we will have more people getting out of the rent rat race and into their own home. Far North Queensland will also have the biggest investment in the state for homelessness services, and social and affordable housing builds.
We’ve had a huge win for health. The axing of the patient tax and the hospital rescue plan which will deliver 104 beds to Cairns Base Hospital as well as expanding services including orthopaedics, ophthalmology, and plastic and reconstructive surgery. And, of course, funding to secure a new and safe location for the Cairns Hospital helipad and a new carpark.
The 67 million investment includes $19 million to deliver a long overdue dedicated Adolescent and Young Adult mental health acute beds in Cairns, and also $60 million for Stage 1 of the Cairns Health and Innovation Centre. Our hard-working Paramedics also have a huge win, with $29 million committed towards the redevelopment of the Cairns Ambulance Operations Centre a project that’s long, long overdue and wasn’t a priority by the former government.
I am also thrilled with the allocation of $15.5 million in this Budget to support the expansion of the Smithfield Mountain Bike Park — a project of regional and international significance.
I fought hard for this commitment for 18 months, and I thank the LNP Government for recognising its importance — not only to my electorate, but to the wider Far North Queensland region. I took the now Premier there in my first weeks as a candidate, then Minister O’Connor who I don’t think will ever forgive me for taking him on his first ever Mountain Bike Ride. I also want to thank Minister Powell for making the commitment in his first weeks as the new Minister for Tourism to commit to fast tracking this project. This project once completed will inject $95 million per annum into the Cairns economy through increased visitor spending.
This funding commitment is the result of over a decade of passionate advocacy from the Cairns Mountain Biking community, the Cairns Mountain Bike Club, TTNQ, and so many dedicated young riders and families who have championed this vision and were ignored by the former Government.
Their tireless work has helped put Cairns on the map as a world-class mountain biking destination, and I’m thrilled to see their efforts recognised with real funding that will support jobs, tourism, and healthy, active lifestyles for generations to come.
We will be the Reef, Rainforest, and Riding capital of the globe.
The environment has also had a big win, with the biggest investment in NRM’S to invest in on-ground activity that will deliver significant outcomes for threatened species, waterways and coasts, sustainable agriculture, disaster recovery and resilience, biosecurity and engaging First Nations people.
We also committed to 150 more land and sea rangers, and a new $24 Million Great Barrier Reef Urban Technology Innovation Fund to tackle wastewater, storm water, and industrial runoff to the Great Barrier Reef.
We are also investing $600,000 to build a new Turtle Rehabilitation Centre on Green Island. We’ve set ourselves the ambitious target of increasing our protected areas by more in one term than those opposite did in a decade.
The budget also commits a $2 million investment to upgrade some of our most valued community spaces across the Cairns northern beaches and hinterland.
This is funding that I fought hard for after the Jasper Floods. It will support much-needed improvements to community halls that not only are used and loved by locals, but they provided a lifeline during the devasting Jasper Floods.
Community halls like Machans Beach, Holloways Beach, Yorkey’s Knob and Koah Halls, and the Kuranda neighbourhood centre were vital in supporting locals during and for many, many months after the floods. I want to thank all the locals who volunteer in these halls, fundraise constantly to raise money to upgrade them- I know this investment in your community spaces will be put to great use.
The crucial investment of $888,000 in the North Queensland Natural Disasters Mitigation Program couldn’t come at a more important time for Far North Queensland.
After the devastating floods we faced in 2023 and again in 2025, our communities know all too well the harsh reality of disaster. This funding will help local councils strengthen flood defences, reduce future risks, and protect families, homes, and businesses from the trauma and financial strain that disasters bring.
This budget also delivers $9 million to support veterans and their families through legal, employment, homelessness, and education initiatives. I want to commend the Premier for this budget allocation and his commitment to developing Queensland’s very first Veterans’ Strategy.
I am passionately advocating for a new Legacy House right here in Far North Queensland—a dedicated space where veterans can access the support they deserve. Legacy have been advocating on deaf ears to all levels of government for years now.
Premier, with this funding you have allocated, I am sure you know that I am going to be pestering you hard for a share of that $9 million dollars for FNQ Legacy House.
Here in Barron River, I’m also pleased to announce that many of our local schools will be receiving significant upgrades.
- A new nature-based playground at Redlynch State College
- A nature playground at Caravonica State School
- A shade structure for Trinity Beach State School
- A brand-new multipurpose hall for Freshwater State School
- And an additional $900,000 for general maintenance across schools in the electorate.
These upgrades will improve learning environments, support outdoor play, and ensure our schools continue to meet the needs of a growing region.
Mr Speaker, you have reviewed and approved my speech for incorporation. As such, I ask that the remainder of my speech be incorporated into the Record of Proceedings.
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As someone who owned and operated a small business for over 25 years, I understand firsthand the challenges and opportunities faced by local entrepreneurs. That’s why I’m proud this budget includes $44.7 million in additional funding over five years to boost business productivity and innovation across Queensland.
This investment will support initiatives like the Business Concierge service, new grant programs, and the establishment of regional innovation and start-up hubs — all designed to help local businesses grow, adapt, and thrive in an ever-changing economy.
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Our region is one of the hardest hit in terms of youth crime. A Cairns Youth Justice School in our region will support youth that need a specialised school to help them get their lives back on track, I welcome this funding commitment.
As the Assistant Minister for Early Education, I’m proud to see the rollout of free health checks for kindy kids across Queensland. This important initiative will give children the best start to their learning journey, ensuring early identification of health and development needs before they start school.
Families will also get cost of living benefits from the $1.886 billion Back to School initiative over four years, providing $100 per student to help cover the cost of school essentials — available for every child attending a government or non-government primary school. I am also grateful to see $1.4 million in the budget to support the incredible work School Savvy do in our community, to support families doing it tough at back-to-school time with stationery, uniforms, and even free kid’s haircuts.
To improve the quality of education, we’re delivering $221.1 million over four years, and $48.4 million ongoing each year, through the More Teachers, Better Education plan — helping get more teachers into classrooms and lifting education outcomes right across Queensland.
I also want to commend the Treasurer and the Minister for Sport for their commitment to grassroots sport through the expansion of the Play! On Vouchers program—a fantastic initiative supporting Queensland’s young sporting stars.
The $200 vouchers will help ensure more children can get involved in sport, no matter their family’s financial circumstances. Importantly, a dedicated portion of funding has been set aside specifically for regional and rural communities and for children with a disability. This new program now covers Winter and Summer sports helping level the playing field across the state.
As the Assistant Minister for FNQ, I want to also acknowledge the funding investments outside of my electorate, spanning across Cairns and the Far North region.
This includes a $2.7 million investment in the construction of Queensland’s first Chinese Culture and Heritage Centre, right here in Cairns.
This year’s budget also delivers $200,000 for much-needed upgrades to the Cairns footpath network, including the construction of new footpaths in key locations across the Barron River electorate and the Northern Beaches.
Another significant investment in this budget is the Wangetti Trail — a project that has been a failure under Labors watch.
Our government will not only finish this project, but we will plan properly, ensuring the trail has the vital infrastructure to support tourists and locals, such as a parking lot which wasn’t considered and now, we have people walking the highway.
We will turn the Wangetti Trail from an epic fail to an epic trail.
This budget takes real steps to address the housing and homelessness crisis — backing in the people on the frontlines and delivering help where it’s most urgently needed.
We’re investing $380.1 million over five years to strengthen crisis accommodation initiatives and boost frontline housing and homelessness services across the state — ensuring more Queenslanders have a safe place to turn in times of need.
An additional $208.1 million over four years will extend the 20 per cent funding uplift for specialist homelessness services, supporting the incredible work being done by dedicated staff and volunteers in shelters, outreach programs, and emergency support centres.
Critically, the government is also investing $31.1 million over four years to double the capacity of both Womensline and Mensline — making sure more victims of domestic and family violence can get help, when they need it most.
This includes delivering a brand-new North Queensland-based hub, giving our region better access to vital support services, and strengthening the response to domestic and family violence right here in our own backyard.
This budget continues to invest in the long-term resilience and growth of our region. We’re delivering $166 million this year as part of the $390 million Cairns Water Security Stage One Project, in partnership with the Australian Government — a critical investment in securing the region’s future water supply.
I recently visited the Kuranda Weir and the Barron Gorge Power Station, witnessing firsthand the vital work being done to maintain and upgrade these essential assets. Their role in providing reliable water and power to our community cannot be overstated, and this budget includes $16.2 million to support improvements to these critical infrastructure sites.
Community safety and emergency response services are being strengthened with $5.3 million to replace the Cairns Fire Communications Centre, and $29 million for the redevelopment of the Cairns Ambulance Operations Centre.
The region’s marine and training industries are also receiving a major boost, with the budget held for the Cairns Common User Facility, and $13.6 million to complete the expansion of the Great Barrier Reef International Marine College, delivering new classrooms, training simulators, and upgraded staff and student facilities.
This Budget marks a turning point for Barron River and the broader Far North Region.
After years of being overlooked, we are now seeing real investment, real action, and real outcomes that will shape a stronger, safer, and more connected future for our region.
