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Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation

Queensland Budget 2025-26 · Crisafulli Government

Minister
Andrew Powell MP
Department head
Director-General Patricia O'Callaghan

As at budget day (2025-06-10)

$1.283B
Total expenses
$279.4M
Capital program
$81M
3 tracked measures
3,106
FTE staff

Across budgets

Tracked across 6 budgets (2021-22 to 2026-27).

Key service areas

National parks and protected areasEnvironmental regulation and complianceTourism policy and attractionScience and innovation policy

Budget initiatives

More Rangers, Better Neighbours$10MNewAnnounced

150 additional rangers including national park, Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers and specialist fire rangers over 4 years.

More park rangers managing national parks and working with neighbouring landholders to reduce bushfire risk and protect wildlife. The $84.6 million over five years funds 150 additional rangers including Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers, and specialist fire rangers.

2024-25: $3.2M2025-26: $10.0M2026-27: $14.4M2027-28: $28.2M2028-29: $28.8M

General Government operating, total over 5 years plus $29.6M per annum ongoing

Wildlife Hospital Network$21.2MNewAnnounced

New or expanded facilities and increased research capability at 5 wildlife hospitals to provide specialist care to sick and injured native wildlife.

Better-equipped wildlife hospitals to care for injured koalas, cassowaries and other native animals. This supports the network of wildlife care facilities that treat animals injured by vehicles, dogs, habitat loss and natural disasters.

2024-25: $11.0M2025-26: $21.2M2026-27: $7.5M

General Government operating, total over 3 years from 2024-25

Delivering Destination 2045 (Tourism)$50MNewAnnounced

Investment in Queensland's tourism future including aviation attraction, event attraction, new product development, and further supplementation for Tourism and Events Queensland.

More international flights, major events and tourism infrastructure to attract visitors and create hospitality jobs across Queensland. The Delivering Destination 2045 strategy supports the tourism industry's growth targets through targeted investment in visitor experiences and marketing.

2025-26: $50.0M2026-27: $75.0M2027-28: $158.0M2028-29: $163.0M

General Government operating, total over 4 years. Brings total government tourism investment to over $1B over 4 years.

Forward estimates

Year-by-year allocations for 3 measures with published forward profiles.

Forward-estimate allocations by measure and financial year for this department, with a total column.
Measure2024-252025-262026-272027-282028-29Total
More Rangers, Better Neighbours$3.2M$10.0M$14.4M$28.2M$28.8M$84.6M
Wildlife Hospital Network$11.0M$21.2M$7.5MNot availableNot available$39.6M
Delivering Destination 2045 (Tourism)Not available$50.0M$75.0M$158.0M$163.0M$446.0M
Total$14.2M$81.2M$96.9M$186.2M$191.8M$570.2M

Performance metrics

Service standards from the Service Delivery Statement. Targets and actuals as published.

Performance metrics with prior-year target (2024-25), actual (2024-25) and current target (2025-26).
MetricPrior target2024-25Actual2024-25Target2025-26
Percentage of visitors to Queensland Government-managed protected areas who are satisfied with their visit experience≥90%92%≥90%
Cost per hectare for managing the protected area estate$19$19$19
Percentage of approvals and licences administered in accordance with relevant standards≥95%96%≥95%
Cost per environmental regulatory action$3,200$2,900$3,200
Level of overall customer satisfaction with tourism development and investment services≥85%89%≥85%
Cost per hour of tourism development and investment services$127$126$130
Level of overall customer satisfaction with science and innovation services≥80%84%≥80%
Cost per hour of science and innovation services$122$120$125

Source: Service Delivery Statement. Prior target and actual are for 2024-25; target is for 2025-26.

Source document

Service Delivery Statement — Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (PDF)

Last updated: 2026-05-26. Factual information from published budget documents.