Vehicle registration discounts and a temporary move to 50-cent public transport tickets are part of Queensland’s 2024-25 state budget.
The Miles Labor government has announced cost-cutting measures as part of its June 11 budget that runs a $3 billion deficit for the year.
Queensland business owners and private motorists will be eligible for a 20 percent cut in car registration fees for light vehicles.
The government will also aim to win over first-home buyers by increasing the threshold for the first homeowner concession on properties worth $500,000 to $700,000, with the concession phasing out on values of $800,000.
The incentives will also apply to the first home vacant land concession threshold, increasing from $250,000 to $350,000, with the concession then phasing out up to values of $500,000.
Another move intended to win over families in the budget will be an increase in FairPlay sports vouchers for children aged five to 17.
Vouchers will increase from $150 to $200 and the number of vouchers will be increased to 20,000.
Annual funding for the Bruce Highway increase, with this year’s budget to include an investigation into advanced warnings for flood alerts.
A further $250 million will be spent annually on the highway from 2027-28.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish said one of the priorities of extra funding was easing congestion.
“Safety is always our most important priority and I’m pleased to be working with key transport advocates to improve safety on the Bruce,” he said in a statement.
“The release of the 15-year Vision and Action Plans for the Bruce Highway and the Safer Bruce 2030 Action Plan marks a key milestone for the Bruce Highway.”
Mr. Miles said in a statement that his government was aiming to bring the cost of living down with the 2024-25 budget.
“Every dollar counts, which is why I’m doing what matters to put money back in the pockets of Queenslanders,” he said.
“[The registration discount] initiative will save the 5.7 million light car owners here in Queensland hundreds of dollars over the 12 months—dollars that could be spent on groceries, rent, the mortgage or put into savings.
“I said this budget would be firmly focused on cost-of-living relief for Queensland, and that’s what we’re delivering.”
The government’s plan to freeze government fees and charges is set to come at a cost of $180 million to the budget.
Economist Says ‘No Reason’ to Keep the Budget in Deficit
Queensland economist John Humphreys told The Epoch Times in an earlier budget preview that he believed the decision to move into deficit was intended to win public support in the lead-up to the upcoming October election.“The move by the Queensland Labor government to trash the Queensland budget is purely political,” he told The Epoch Times.
“There is no good economic or policy reason for them to run up large budget deficits over the coming years, so if it happens then it can only be explained by political desperation in the lead-up to the 2024 Queensland election.”
A spokesperson for state opposition leader David Crisafulli’s office previously told The Epoch Times that the party supported financial relief in Queensland’s budget, but disagreed with Labor’s approach.
“The LNP supports more cost of living relief, Queenslanders are doing it tough under a Labor government that’s driven-up living costs,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
“The LNP is committed to long-term underlying cost of living relief, but after nine years of Labor driving-up costs, Queenslanders see Labor will now do and say anything to cling to power, including announcing measures which expire just weeks after the election.”
The full budget was released on on June 11.
