2017-18 Federal Budget – Queensland funding summary

Published: 10^th May 2017

The 2017-17 Federal Budget contains a number of significant funding commitments for Queensland and for councils.

Following sustained lobbying by the LGAQ and ALGA, indexation of Financial Assistance Grants will be restored from 2017-18. The Federal Government has also announced that half of the 2017-18 allocation will be brought forward for payment in 2016-17.

Accordingly, each Queensland council will receive their respective share of $232.6 Million of the 2017-18 grant payment for next year in this year, with the balance of $232.6M to be paid in 2017-18. Forward year allocations are $482.5M in 2018-19, $505.9M in 2019-20 and $508.6M in2020-21.

The LGAQ welcomes the recognition of the importance of infrastructure funding made available to Queensland including to local government. Roads to Recovery, Bridges Renewal, and a number of other important funding programmes have been extended for the next three years to 2020-21.

Particularly significant to Queensland are the Federal Government’s commitments to road funding (most to be allocated between the State and local government projects):

Roads to Recovery - $142.4M in 2017-18, $85.8M in 2018-19, and $81.4M in 2019-20 and 2020-21;
Black Spot Projects - $17.9M each year over the next 3 years to 2019-20, and $12.2M in 2020-21;
Bridges Renewal Program - $26.9M in 2017-18, $20.9M in 2018-91, $24.3M in 2019-20 and $12M in 2020-21;
Developing Northern Australia: Improving Cattle Supply Chains - $26.2M in 2017-18 and $28.8M in 2018-19;
Developing Northern Australia: Northern Australia Roads - $37.3M in 2017-18, $86.8M in 2018-19 and $95.4M in 2019-20;
Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program - $15.1M in 2017-18 and $14.5M in 2018-19, $8M a year thereafter.

Other major funding announcements relevant to Queensland local governments include:

NDRRA: payment estimates for previous events - $187.4M in 2017-18 and $54.6M in 2018-19;
Queensland Tourism Cyclone Debbie Recovery (tourism infrastructure) - $3.5M in 2016-17;
Supporting Drought-affected Communities Program - $2.5M in 2017-18 and $2.6M in 2018-19;
National Partnership on the Management of Established Pests and Weeds - $1M in 2017-18 and in 2018-19;
National Partnership on Implementing Water Reform in the Murray-Darling Basin - $2M year 2017-18 to 2019-20;
Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure Program - $18.1M in 2017-18, $28.2M in 2018-19 and $20M in 2019-10;
National Partnership on the Water Infrastructure Development Fund: Feasibility Studies - $15.6M in 2017-18 and $5M in 2018-19;
National Partnership on the North Queensland Stadium - $50M in 2017-18, $35< in 2018-19 and $5M in 2019-20.

National programme funding allocations also available to Queensland and councils include:

$50 million to determine the effectiveness of the National Indigenous advancement strategy.
Affordable Housing – $1.9 billion to support State affordable housing services, including $1.4 billion through the National Affordable Housing SPP and $553.6 million through National Partnerships in 2017-18. From 2018-19, funding from the National Affordable Housing SPP will be combined with new funding for homelessness under the new National Housing and Homelessness Agreement that will target jurisdiction-specific priorities including supply targets, planning and zoning reforms and renewal of public housing stock while also supporting the delivery of frontline homelessness services.
National Housing Infrastructure Facility – $1 billion over 5 years to support local governments through a range of options to finance critical infrastructure such as transport links, power and water infrastructure and site remediation works.
Extension of the National Cities Agenda – $7.7M allocation in 17/18 ($23.5M over 4 years from 17/18).
Adaptation Partnership – $550,000 in 2017-18 to establish an Adaptation Partnership to bring together Australia’s core national expertise on climate resilience and adaptation research: the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility and the CSIRO.

Further details and background can be found here:

For any further information please contact Ms Sarah Buckler, General Manager – Advocacy on 1300 542 700.