Queensland Health
Queensland Budget 2025-26 · Crisafulli Government
As at budget day (2025-06-10)
Key service areas
Budget initiatives
Additional funding to restore the health budget and improve access to health services, including emergency services, elective surgery, ambulance services, the Mater Springfield partnership, and bed capacity stabilisation.
Hospitals receive extra funding for emergency departments, surgeries, and specialist clinics to reduce wait times. The $6.539 billion health operating uplift over four years includes $1.752 billion to stabilise elective surgery waitlists (providing over 30,000 surgeries in 2025-26), $581.4 million over two years to restore access to 515 beds, and $55 million for targeted patient flow improvements in the busiest emergency departments.
General Government operating, over 4 years from 2025-26. Sub-initiatives (elective surgery, bed capacity, Mater Springfield, ambulance) are funded from within this envelope.
Funding to stabilise elective surgery waitlists, providing over 30,000 surgeries in 2025-26 and significantly enhancing the Surgery Connect Program that partners with private hospitals. Funded from within the $6.539B Delivery of Critical Health Services envelope.
Shorter wait times for planned surgery, with more operations funded across Queensland hospitals. The $1.752 billion allocation over four years targets the elective surgery backlog, delivering over 30,000 surgeries in 2025-26. A $100 million Surgery Connect surge in 2024-25 has already funded 10,000 additional procedures through private hospital partnerships covering ENT, general surgery, orthopaedics, urology, ophthalmology, gynaecology and plastics.
General Government operating, over 4 years from 2025-26. Funded from within the $6.539B Delivery of Critical Health Services — year-by-year split not separately disclosed.
Sustainable funding for the Queensland Ambulance Service to provide urgent and emergency care, including more paramedics. Funded from within the $6.539B Delivery of Critical Health Services envelope.
More paramedics and better-resourced ambulance services to reduce emergency wait times and get help to patients faster. The $812.9 million operating uplift over four years ensures the ambulance workforce can grow sustainably to meet demand. This is part of a total $1.063 billion additional uplift to the Queensland Ambulance Service.
General Government operating, over 4 years from 2025-26. Funded from within the $6.539B Delivery of Critical Health Services — year-by-year split not separately disclosed.
Operationalises 186 public hospital beds through a partnership with Mater Hospital Springfield, including an emergency department and intensive care unit. Funded from within the $6.539B Delivery of Critical Health Services envelope.
Provides 186 new public hospital beds in Springfield, meaning families in one of Queensland's fastest-growing corridors no longer have to travel long distances for hospital care. The facility includes an emergency department and intensive care unit, delivered through a partnership with the Mater.
General Government operating, over 4 years from 2025-26. Funded from within the $6.539B Delivery of Critical Health Services — year-by-year split not separately disclosed.
Stabilises bed capacity with continued access to 515 beds across the health system to improve patient flow. Funded from within the $6.539B Delivery of Critical Health Services envelope.
Funds continued access to 515 hospital beds contracted from the private sector, helping maintain patient flow through emergency departments and public hospital wards. The $581.4 million over two years ensures these beds remain available while permanent capacity is built through the Hospital Rescue Plan.
General Government operating, over 2 years from 2025-26. Funded from within the $6.539B Delivery of Critical Health Services — year-by-year split not separately disclosed.
Capital investment for hospital expansions and new hospitals, including Bundaberg, Toowoomba, Ipswich, Logan, Redcliffe, Townsville, and Princess Alexandra hospitals, delivering more than 2,600 new beds statewide.
Three new hospitals at Toowoomba, Coomera and Bundaberg, plus expansions at ten existing hospitals, delivering more than 2,600 new beds across Queensland. The $18.526 billion Hospital Rescue Plan responds to growing demand from Queensland's increasing and ageing population. It also includes 186 public beds at Mater Hospital Springfield with an emergency department and intensive care unit.
Capital, total program cost. Year profile not separately disclosed in BP4 (amounts held centrally).
Construction of multi-storey car parks at hospitals across Queensland with opportunities for local builders.
Free or cheaper hospital car parking so patients and visitors are not financially penalised when accessing care. The Hospital Car Parking Program receives $1.338 billion over four years to provide safe and affordable parking for patients, carers, visitors and hospital staff at new and existing hospitals across the state.
Capital, total over 4 years from 2025-26
Capital investment for new and replacement ambulance stations, fleet, equipment and ICT systems across Queensland.
New and upgraded ambulance stations to improve emergency response times in growing communities. The Queensland Ambulance Service receives $250 million over four years in base capital funding — the first multi-year capital uplift since 2008-09. This funds new and upgraded ambulance stations, Triple Zero Operations Centres, and fleet and equipment.
Capital, total over 4 years from 2025-26
Uplift to maintain and renew health infrastructure across the hospital network, addressing deferred maintenance backlogs.
Addresses maintenance backlogs in hospitals so facilities remain safe and functional. The $2.647 billion over five years (plus $200 million per year ongoing) funds maintenance, replacement and refurbishment of Queensland Health's existing assets. This responds to findings in the Queensland Audit Office Health 2024 report and the Sangster Review.
Capital, over 5 years from 2024-25 plus $200M per annum ongoing
Implementation of the Easier Access to Health Services Plan to improve healthcare access including 7-day discharging, transit lounges, more CT and MRI machines, support for regional GPs, and reinstating maternity services at Biloela and Cooktown.
Improves access to GP-like services and community health closer to home. New CT scanners and MRI machines are being deployed to satellite health centres and regional hospitals, allowing patients to access diagnostic services without long trips to major hospitals.
General Government operating, 2025-26 budget year within 4-year total. Part of total $724.4M Easier Access to Health Services Plan (operating + capital).
Free vision, hearing and speech development checks in kindergartens and childcare centres across Queensland.
Children will get free vision, hearing and speech checks at kindy or childcare, catching developmental issues before school starts. The $37.5 million Healthy Kindy Kids program over five years ensures problems are identified early when intervention is most effective.
General Government operating, over 5 years from 2024-25
Forward estimates
Year-by-year allocations for 6 measures with published forward profiles.
| Measure | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delivery of Critical Health Services | — | $1.608B | $1.826B | $1.595B | $1.510B | $6.54B |
| Hospital Car Parking | — | $332.3M | $595.6M | $224.4M | $185.9M | $1.34B |
| Queensland Ambulance Service Capital | — | $70.0M | $70.0M | $70.0M | $40.0M | $250.0M |
| Timely Investment Infrastructure Maintenance (Health) | $671.9M | $675.0M | $550.0M | $550.0M | $200.0M | $2.65B |
| Easier Access to Health Services Plan | — | $21.2M | $30.0M | $33.0M | $134.4M | $218.6M |
| Healthy Kindy Kids | $2.5M | $6.3M | $8.8M | $10.0M | $10.0M | $37.5M |
| Total | $674.4M | $2.71B | $3.08B | $2.48B | $2.08B | $11.03B |
Performance metrics
Service standards from the Service Delivery Statement. Targets and actuals as published.
| Metric | Prior target | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | |
| Rate of healthcare associated Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA) bloodstream (SAB) infections/10,000 acute public hospital patient days | ≤1.0 | 0.7 | ≤1.0 |
| Percentage of elective surgery patients treated within the clinically recommended times — Category 1 (30 days) | >98% | 86.6% | >98% |
| Percentage of elective surgery patients treated within the clinically recommended times — Category 2 (90 days) | >95% | 74.7% | >95% |
| Percentage of elective surgery patients treated within the clinically recommended times — Category 3 (365 days) | >95% | 84.1% | >95% |
| Median wait time for elective surgery treatment (days) — Category 1 (30 days) | — | 18 | — |
| Median wait time for elective surgery treatment (days) — Category 2 (90 days) | — | 69 | — |
| Median wait time for elective surgery treatment (days) — Category 3 (365 days) | — | 259 | — |
| Median wait time for elective surgery treatment (days) — All categories | — | 41 | — |
| Percentage of admitted patients discharged against medical advice — Non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients | 0.8% | 1.3% | 0.8% |
| Percentage of admitted patients discharged against medical advice — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients | 1.0% | 3.4% | 1.0% |
| Average cost per weighted activity unit for Activity Based Funding facilities | $5,937 | $6,060 | $6,133 |
| Percentage of specialist outpatients waiting within clinically recommended times — Category 1 (30 days) | 65% | 54.1% | 65% |
| Percentage of specialist outpatients seen within clinically recommended times — Category 1 (30 days) | 83% | 77.1% | 83% |
| Percentage of emergency department attendances who depart within 4 hours of their arrival in the department | >80% | 59.1% | >80% |
| Percentage of emergency department patients seen within recommended timeframes — Category 1 (within 2 minutes) | 100% | 100.0% | 100% |
| Percentage of emergency department patients seen within recommended timeframes — Category 2 (within 10 minutes) | 80% | 73.9% | 80% |
| Percentage of emergency department patients seen within recommended timeframes — Category 3 (within 30 minutes) | 75% | 69.3% | 75% |
| Percentage of emergency department patients seen within recommended timeframes — Category 4 (within 60 minutes) | 70% | 79.1% | 70% |
| Percentage of emergency department patients seen within recommended timeframes — Category 5 (within 120 minutes) | 70% | 93.7% | 70% |
| Percentage of patients transferred off stretcher within 30 minutes | 90% | 63.3% | 90% |
| Median wait time for treatment in emergency departments (minutes) | — | 14 | — |
| Proportion of re-admissions to acute psychiatric care within 28 days of discharge — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander | <12% | 10.7% | <12% |
| Proportion of re-admissions to acute psychiatric care within 28 days of discharge — Non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander | <12% | 9.1% | <12% |
| Rate of community mental health follow up within 1-7 days following discharge from an acute mental health inpatient unit — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander | >65% | 59.6% | >65% |
| Rate of community mental health follow up within 1-7 days following discharge from an acute mental health inpatient unit — Non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander | >65% | 62.4% | >65% |
| Percentage of the Queensland population who consume alcohol at risky levels (2020 guidelines) — Persons | 35.3% | 36.4% | 35.3% |
| Percentage of the Queensland population who smoke daily — Persons | 9.8% | 8.9% | 8.6% |
| Percentage of the Queensland population who were sunburnt in the last 12 months — Persons | 46.4% | 44.6% | 43.3% |
| Annual notification rate of HIV infection | <3.0 | 2.9 | <3.0 |
| Vaccination rates at designated milestones for children — all children 1 year | 95% | 91.2% | 95% |
| Vaccination rates at designated milestones for children — all children 2 years | 95% | 89.8% | 95% |
| Vaccination rates at designated milestones for children — all children 5 years | 95% | 92.4% | 95% |
| Percentage of target population screened for breast cancer | 52.1% | 51.2% | 52.1% |
| Percentage of target population screened for cervical cancer | 67.6% | 62.3% | 67.6% |
| Percentage of target population screened for bowel cancer | 42.5% | 38.8% | 42.5% |
| Percentage of invasive cancers detected through BreastScreen Queensland that are small (<15mm) in diameter | 59.6% | 59.0% | 59.6% |
| Ratio of potentially preventable hospitalisations — rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander hospitalisations to rate of non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander hospitalisations | 1.65 | 1.73 | 1.65 |
| Percentage of women who, during their pregnancy, were smoking after 20 weeks — Non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women | 5.0% | 4.3% | 5.0% |
| Percentage of women who, during their pregnancy, were smoking after 20 weeks — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women | 28.0% | 31.9% | 28.0% |
| Percentage of women who attended at least 5 antenatal visits and gave birth at 32 weeks or more gestation — Non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women | 98.0% | 97.6% | 98.0% |
| Percentage of women who attended at least 5 antenatal visits and gave birth at 32 weeks or more gestation — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women | 93.0% | 90.9% | 93.0% |
| Percentage of babies born of low birth weight to Non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women | 4.6% | 4.7% | 4.6% |
| Percentage of babies born of low birth weight to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women | 7.3% | 10.4% | 7.3% |
| Percentage of public general dental care patients waiting within the recommended timeframe of two years | 85% | 99.5% | 85% |
| Percentage of oral health Weighted Occasions of Service which are preventative | 15% | 18.2% | 15% |
| Percentage of Wide Area Network (WAN) availability across the state — Metro | 99.8% | 99.71% | 99.8% |
| Percentage of Wide Area Network (WAN) availability across the state — Regional | 95.7% | 99.74% | 95.7% |
| Percentage of Wide Area Network (WAN) availability across the state — Remote | 92.0% | 98.31% | 92.0% |
| Percentage of high level ICT incidents resolved within specified timeframes — Priority 2 | 80% | 30% | 80% |
| Percentage of capital infrastructure projects delivered on budget and within time and scope within a 5% unfavourable tolerance | 95% | 84% | 95% |
| Percentage of correct, on time pays | 98% | 99.78% | 98% |
| Time within which code 1 incidents are attended — 50th percentile response time (minutes) — Code 1A | 8.2 | 8.7 | 8.2 |
| Time within which code 1 incidents are attended — 50th percentile response time (minutes) — Code 1B | 8.2 | 11.4 | 8.2 |
| Time within which code 1 incidents are attended — 50th percentile response time (minutes) — Code 1C | 8.2 | 13.6 | 8.2 |
| Time within which code 1 incidents are attended — 90th percentile response time (minutes) — Code 1A | 16.5 | 17.5 | 16.5 |
| Time within which code 1 incidents are attended — 90th percentile response time (minutes) — Code 1B | 16.5 | 22.8 | 16.5 |
| Time within which code 1 incidents are attended — 90th percentile response time (minutes) — Code 1C | 16.5 | 26.5 | 16.5 |
| Percentage of Triple Zero (000) calls answered within 10 seconds | 90% | 90.46% | 90% |
| Percentage of non-urgent incidents attended to by the appointment time | 70% | 76.4% | 70% |
| Percentage of patients who report a clinically meaningful pain reduction | 85% | 77.3% | 85% |
| Patient experience | 97% | 98% | 97% |
| Gross cost per incident | $1,049 | $1,068 | $1,101 |
| Percentage of calls to 13 HEALTH answered within 20 seconds | 80% | 77.35% | 80% |
Source: Service Delivery Statement. Prior target and actual are for 2024-25; target is for 2025-26.
Source document
Service Delivery Statement — Queensland Health (PDF)Last updated: 2026-05-26. Factual information from published budget documents.