Queensland Budget 2026-27

Helps Indigenous Councils deliver programs and services for their communities by supporting their financial sustainability.

General Government operating, $40.5M over 2 years

Delivers 21 new projects to improve drinking water, wastewater, waste and social infrastructure in First Nations communities.

$74M for Round 2 of the Closing the Gap Priorities Fund. Year-by-year profile not separately disclosed.

Supports film and television production jobs in Queensland by funding the operation of Screen Queensland's Brisbane studios.

General Government operating, $9.9M over 3 years

Marine pilotage fees rise 9%, recovering the cost of safely guiding ships in and out of Queensland's ports. Queensland pilotage fees remain lower on average than other Australian ports for the same cargo.

Revenue measure (additional revenue), approximately $109.8M over five years from a 9% fee increase effective 1 February 2026. Positive amounts denote additional revenue.

Accelerates Queensland's critical minerals industry, driving investment in new projects and reopening mothballed mines, particularly in the North West Minerals Province.

Over $146 million: $100M Queensland Critical Minerals Fund (capital, 2025-26, via QIC) plus $46.1M over 3 years (largely met internally) for investment attraction and value chains.

Restores Queensland's ability to drill, refine and store fuel, reducing reliance on global supply chains and helping stabilise fuel prices.

$19M over 2 years (including $5M to DNRMMRRD plus internal funding, and $11.9M internal to State Development for the Taroom Trough Development Plan).

Secures the Mount Isa copper smelter and Townsville refinery, protecting regional jobs and strengthening Australia's copper capability.

General Government operating, up to $300M over 4 years (including $95.5M held centrally), matched by the Federal Government for a total package of up to $600 million, subject to a transformation study.

Cuts red tape for small and family businesses with a new concierge service, financial counselling and easier access to government work.

More than $100 million over four years. Year-by-year profile not separately disclosed in BP4.

Delivers modern racing infrastructure across thoroughbred, harness and greyhound codes, including new spectator facilities at Eagle Farm and upgrades across regional Queensland.

$100M in 2026-27 (recorded as both an expense and capital measure of $100M each in BP4); includes a $25 million Eagle Farm spectator facilities investment.

Maintains Queensland's major stadiums and community venues in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Combines $163.3M operating and $88.3M capital over 4 years. 2026-27 figure is the sum of the operating ($39.2M) and capital ($22.1M) components.

Backs Queensland manufacturing and creates jobs by investing in biofuels, biomedical and defence industries.

$180.6 million fund. Year-by-year profile not separately disclosed in BP4.

Establishes a manufacturing hub in Maryborough to support local manufacturers, develop skills and build supply chains in the Wide Bay region.

$925,000 over 2 years, met internally by the department

Begins reforming the residential care system following the Child Safety Commission of Inquiry, with better support to recruit and retain foster and kinship carers.

General Government operating, $200M in 2026-27 ($186.6M core response plus $13.4M family support package). This is the canonical costed entry for the $200M inquiry response; the Residential Care Repair initiative draws on this same envelope.

Establishes a new Queensland Protection Commission and an intelligence hub to identify people who should not be working with children, implementing the In Plain Sight review into child sexual abuse.

Over $250M over 4 years across multiple departments (Justice, Families, Youth Justice, Health, Education, Police). Includes a $5.7M unified worker screening case management system and the Child Safeguarding Intelligence Hub. The 'Keeping Our Kids Safe' initiative is the Budget Overview framing of this same $250M envelope (not additional).

Reforms the residential care system and boosts foster care with more practical support for carers, plus $1,500 allowances to help children in care take part in education and extra-curricular activities.

The headline 'Residential Care Repair' $200M figure is the same envelope already costed in the Initial Response to the Child Safety Commission of Inquiry; amount/totalAmount left null here to avoid double-counting. Distinct named components include the $28.5M Professional Foster Care pilot and the continued $70.1M carer allowance program.

Continues redress payments, counselling and support for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse through the National Redress Scheme.

General Government operating, $18.7M over 3 years

Boosts the safety of children at childcare, in schools and in the community, implementing the In Plain Sight recommendations.

Same over-$250M In Plain Sight / Queensland Protection Commission envelope costed in the 'Queensland Protection Commission' initiative; amount/totalAmount left null here to avoid double-counting.

$200 vouchers help families cover the cost of registering children in sport and recreation, keeping kids active and easing cost-of-living pressure.

General Government operating, $250M over 4 years. Year-by-year profile not separately disclosed.

The electricity rebate for vulnerable households rises to almost $400, providing power bill relief to around 700,000 Queensland households.

Concession; rebate set at $399 in 2026-27. Total program cost not separately broken out in BP4.

South East Queensland households save around $130 over two years as bulk water prices are frozen.

Revenue foregone; two-year price freeze. Cost not separately broken out in BP4.

Puts downward pressure on power prices, with the Energy Roadmap Price Drop saving Ergon households around 7% and small businesses 8%, backed by major power station maintenance overhauls.

$5.2 billion Energy Roadmap, including a $1.8 billion Electricity Maintenance Guarantee over five years. Delivered largely through government-owned corporations; 2026-27 General Government profile not broken out in BP4.

Every primary school student receives $150 a year (up from $100) to help families pay for schoolbooks, uniforms and excursions at the start of the school year.

General Government operating. BP4 shows $7.6M additional in 2026-27 with $133.5M over four years met internally; BP2 cites $141.2M over four years total.

New schools for growing communities, including a secondary school in Ripley Valley, a primary school in Greater Flagstone, Gracemere High School stage two, and new special schools in Townsville and Wynnum-Manly.

Capital, $700M over 5 years (including $254.1M held centrally). Forms part of the $2.3 billion 22 new schools program.

Nine new special schools across Queensland give families of children with disability more local choice and support for their education.

Capital, $862.4M total investment. Year-by-year profile not separately disclosed; overlaps with the New School Infrastructure program.

139 extra work health and safety officers, including 30 in special schools, help protect teachers and students in classrooms.

General Government operating, $83.9M total. Year-by-year profile not separately disclosed in BP4.

Helps non-government schools build and upgrade classrooms and facilities for their students.

General Government operating, $60M in 2026-27

Expands apprenticeships and training in critical industries including health, housing, construction and the 2032 Games, with more support for regional training.

General Government operating. Combines Training and Future Skills Investment ($104.8M) and Skills Demand for Housing, Construction and Health ($44.2M), both in 2026-27. BP2 cites a combined additional $149 million.

Four new TAFE Centres of Excellence in Rockhampton, Caloundra, Petrie and Moreton Bay train workers in in-demand trades.

$201.1M total over 3 years. Year-by-year profile not separately disclosed in BP4.

$330.5 million over five years improves water quality entering the Great Barrier Reef and reduces farm run-off, supporting Reef-dependent tourism jobs.

General Government operating, $330.5M over 5 years across three departments (Environment $262.0M, Primary Industries $60.7M, Natural Resources $7.8M, partly met internally). 2026-27 figure shown is the Environment department's expense component.

Expands national parks and protected areas and unlocks new ecotourism experiences, part of a plan for 45 new ecotourism experiences by 2045.

BP2 p.15 states $139 million over four years; this is authoritative. The BP4 components sum to ~$139.1M: $20.7M operating over 3 years (plus $7.9M p.a. ongoing) and $118.4M capital over 4 years (plus $26.1M p.a. ongoing). The displayed 2026-27 figure ($54.031M) is the capital component (BP4 p.69).

Invests in recycling and resource recovery, with councils paid upfront and the waste levy adjusted to better reflect rural and regional circumstances.

General Government operating, $267.6M over 5 years (with reprofiling). Includes $214M in council payments and $53.6M for the Waste Reduction and Recycling Activation Fund. A linked revenue measure raises an estimated $569.7M over four years from the levy.

Adjusts the waste disposal levy, with rezoning to better reflect rural and regional waste management, funding recycling and resource recovery programs.

Revenue measure; additional revenue of $569.7M over four years from the waste disposal levy. Continues the existing waste levy trajectory.

Strengthens collection of taxes, royalties and penalty debts owed to the state, helping fund services without new taxes.

General Government operating, $60.0M over 4 years plus $15.6M per annum ongoing. Linked revenue measure estimated to raise $220 million over four years.

Supports volunteers and volunteer organisations across Queensland through the first phase of a 10-year Volunteering Plan.

General Government operating, $1.2M over 3 years

More hospital care closer to home, with over 200 new beds operationalised across Hervey Bay, Cairns, West Moreton (Ripley), Gold Coast, Logan, Central Queensland and Wide Bay, plus more emergency and elective surgery capacity.

General Government operating, $750M in 2026-27

Builds three new hospitals (Bundaberg, Coomera, Toowoomba) and the Queensland Cancer Centre and expands ten others, adding more than 2,600 hospital beds across the state.

Capital. $2.206 billion in 2026-27 for Major Hospital Infrastructure (new hospitals and major expansions) of a $17.271 billion total project cost (BP3 Capital Statement, Queensland Health). The broader 2026-27 Queensland Health capital program advancing the Plan is $4.040 billion (BP2 p.4); the yearProfile shows only the 2026-27 Major Hospital Infrastructure spend.

Every dollar of the Mental Health Levy is directed into mental health services, delivering 30 new perinatal mother and baby beds, better mental health care in emergency departments, and more inpatient beds in regional Queensland.

General Government operating from the Queensland Mental Health Levy, $394.4M over 4 years plus $104.7M per annum ongoing. A separate $52.5M capital component over 3 years delivers perinatal beds. The Perinatal Mother and Baby Beds initiative ($153.9M) is a carve-out funded from within this uplift, not additional.

New mother and baby mental health beds help new parents experiencing perinatal mental illness stay with their babies while receiving specialist care, in six locations across the state.

$153.9M over 4 years plus $42.8M per annum ongoing, funded from within the $394.4M Mental Health Funding Uplift per BP4 p.54 — not additional. Amount/totalAmount left null to avoid double-counting against the uplift.

Regional and remote patients who travel for specialist care get a higher fuel subsidy (45c/km, the first increase in eight years) and faster reimbursements, easing the cost of accessing healthcare.

General Government operating, $11.7M in 2026-27; funding from 2027-28 met internally by the department

Free vision, hearing and speech checks for kindy kids across Queensland help identify developmental issues early so children get the support they need before starting school.

General Government operating, $37.5M over 5 years from 2025-26

Shorter waits for planned surgery, with 30,000 operations funded in 2026-27 through partnerships with private hospitals under Surgery Connect.

General Government operating, $297M in 2026-27

More reliable maternity care in regional Queensland, with maternity services reopening in Biloela and Cooktown so families can give birth closer to home.

General Government operating, $57.7M over 4 years

Free flu vaccinations remain available to all Queenslanders, helping protect families and reduce pressure on hospitals during winter.

General Government operating, $31M in 2026-27

Clinicians get real-time access to patient scans and imaging across the state, supporting faster, better-informed treatment decisions.

$16.2M operating over 3 years plus $47.3M capital, funded through the Queensland Government Digital Fund

Continues building the 6,500 social and affordable homes currently under contract or construction, working towards 53,500 new social and community homes by 2044.

Combines $487.3M operating and $537.1M capital over five years ($1.024B total new funding per BP2). Contributes to the record $5.725 billion social and community housing capital program over four years.

A 20% funding boost for specialist homelessness services and crisis accommodation provides more support for vulnerable Queenslanders at risk of homelessness.

General Government operating, $450.1M over 4 years plus $27.4M per annum ongoing to 2036-37

Continues programs that help renters stay in private rental housing, including bond loans and tenancy support.

General Government operating, $83.4M over 3 years

Creates a pathway to home ownership for Palm Island residents through a rent-to-buy scheme, with interest-free loans available for home renovations.

General Government operating, $2M over 10 years ($731,000 over the first 4 years), in collaboration with Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council

First home buyers with as little as a 2% deposit can buy a home with the government taking an equity share of up to 30% (new homes) or 25% (existing homes), for properties up to $1 million.

$165M capital plus $2M operating in 2026-27, part of a $330 million total package for the shared equity scheme

First home buyers building a new home get a $30,000 grant (double the standard amount), locked in for four years to help them into the market.

General Government operating/revenue foregone, $72M over 4 years

Funds the roads, water and sewerage needed to unlock thousands of new home sites across the state, with at least $1 billion reserved for regional communities.

Round 2 doubled to $1 billion, part of the $2 billion Residential Activation Fund. Year-by-year profile not separately disclosed in BP4.

Funds infrastructure to unlock land for first home buyers in priority development areas, supporting the Federal Government's 100,000 Homes for First Home Buyers Program.

$20M new in 2026-27 plus $181.9M over 4 years met internally; $200M total. Secures up to an additional $2 billion from the Federal Government.

Progresses an arena and housing precinct at Woolloongabba through early works and a market process with the private sector.

General Government operating, $45.6M over 2 years; $54.9M total over 3 years from 2025-26

Supports the Residential Tenancies Authority, which helps renters and property owners resolve disputes and manage bonds.

General Government operating, $18.5M over 4 years plus $4.9M per annum ongoing

Temporary residents will pay standard transfer duty rates (like investors) when buying property, with some exemptions, from 1 August 2026.

Revenue measure; reduces revenue foregone by $28.9M over four years (positive figure = revenue gained). Some exemptions apply.

Makes it easier for residential developers to access surcharge relief by lowering the dwelling threshold from 50 to 20 and adding a pre-approval process, encouraging more housing to be built.

Revenue measure (revenue foregone), $66.2M over 5 years. Negative amount denotes revenue foregone to encourage housing supply.

Expands youth detention capacity at Woodford by 32 beds (from 80 to 112), addressing a previously unfunded commitment.

General Government operating, $95.8M over 3 years plus $32.3M per annum ongoing

Keeps the 76-bed Wacol Youth Remand Centre operating to manage youth remand demand across the state.

General Government operating, $51.2M over 2 years

Funds electronic monitoring (ankle bracelets) for young people on bail under recent youth bail laws.

General Government operating, $12.9M over 4 years plus $3.3M per annum ongoing

Continues financial assistance and support for victims of crime through Victim Assist Queensland.

General Government operating, $18.9M in 2026-27

More Supreme and District Court judges to reduce court delays and deliver faster justice for victims and faster resolution of civil matters.

General Government operating, $11.0M over 5 years plus $2.4M per annum ongoing

Clears DNA testing backlogs and rebuilds confidence in forensic services so criminal cases are resolved sooner and victims get justice.

General Government operating, $37.1M over 4 years plus $6.9M per annum ongoing

More judicial support, legal aid and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services so Queenslanders can access justice faster.

Combines three BP4 measures: Judicial Resourcing and Support ($29.3M over 4 years plus $3.3M p.a. ongoing), Legal Aid Queensland ($8.6M in 2026-27) and ATSILS ($1.4M in 2026-27). 2026-27 sum shown.

Modern digital court systems and better security at courthouses make the justice system faster and safer for victims.

Combines Enhanced Court Systems ($22.1M over 4 years plus $7.3M p.a. ongoing) and Enhanced Courthouse Security ($6.0M over 4 years plus $1.8M p.a. ongoing). 2026-27 sum shown.

More prosecutors to bring criminal cases to court faster, reducing delays for victims.

General Government operating, $10.6M over 4 years plus $3.7M per annum ongoing

More staff and resources for Queensland's prisons to safely manage prisoners.

General Government operating, $382.8M over 5 years

Keeps the cost of essential retail goods lower in remote Cape York communities by subsidising freight.

General Government operating, $19.6M over 3 years

Connects North and North West Queensland to the electricity grid, unlocking new resources and critical minerals projects and improving energy security for the region.

$3.2 billion total project investment delivered through government-owned corporations, sourced from BP1 p.19 / BP2 p.12 — not a BP4 General Government budget-year appropriation (CopperString does not appear in BP4). Also backed by the $200 million North West Energy Fund. Budget-year amount and yearProfile left null on the same basis as the Energy Roadmap.

Supports on-farm innovation and projects to grow Queensland's agriculture industry towards $30 billion in output by 2030.

General Government operating, $20M over 4 years. BP1/Overview headline 'Growing our Ag Industry' is $50 million; the BP4 Prosper 2050 measure is $20M with other components funded separately.

Restores dam capacity at North Pine and Lake Macdonald equivalent to a new dam more than double the size of the Bjelke-Petersen Dam, giving farmers and families more water security; Paradise Dam and Borumba Dam are progressed under separate funding.

Capital. The $545M total over 6 years covers North Pine and Lake Macdonald dam upgrades only and does NOT include Paradise Dam or Borumba Dam, which BP1 p.18-19 treats as separate projects ($59.8M for Paradise Dam in 2026-27; $324M for Borumba Dam investigations in 2026-27, delivered via water GOCs). BP2 cites $276.2M towards dam improvement projects in 2026-27.

Upgrades Cressbrook Dam to secure the long-term safety and reliability of drinking water for the Toowoomba region.

General Government operating, $54M over 3 years

Construction is underway on the new Brisbane Stadium at Victoria Park, with works progressing on other Games venues and athlete villages for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Capital, $765.0M budgeted in 2026-27 to progress Games venues and athlete villages, within the $7.1 billion joint venues funding. A further $916.8M over four years covers the first six minor venues and $1.853 billion over four years for villages.

Upgrades to local sporting clubs across Queensland through Round 2 of Games On!, plus a major Suncorp Stadium upgrade funded by the Queensland Legacy Fund.

$250 million Games On! program (Round 2). Complemented by the $300 million Queensland Legacy Fund (centrally held) for grassroots sport and Suncorp Stadium.

Restores safe boat access and addresses environmental issues at Port Hinchinbrook, supporting the local economy.

General Government operating, $39.2M in 2026-27 (plus $14.8M internal); $64M total over 2 years from 2025-26

Keeps water affordable for Cloncurry households and small businesses supplied via the North West Queensland Water Pipeline.

General Government operating, $22M over 4 years ($28M over 7 years)

Protects Queensland's farms and environment from invasive pests and diseases with more frontline biosecurity officers and a re-established northern line of defence at Coen.

$59.1M over 4 years. Year-by-year profile not separately disclosed in this measure.

Supports Beef Week 2027 in Rockhampton, backing primary producers and boosting the Central Queensland economy.

$4.5M to support Beef Week 2027

Funds recruitment campaigns to add more frontline police officers, including from interstate and overseas.

General Government operating, $23M in 2026-27

A new Police Academy, Dog Squad and specialised facilities in Townsville to train and support police in North Queensland.

Capital, $96M over 3 years, part of a $100 million total package

New and upgraded police stations and beats in growing communities including Logan, Boondall, Edmonton, Hervey Bay and Mount Isa.

Capital, $495.9M total investment. Year-by-year profile not separately broken out in BP4.

More police drones to support pursuits and emergency and disaster responses in difficult terrain.

$3.8M operating over 3 years plus $1.5M capital over 2 years for drone and surveillance technology

Strengthens firearms tracking through the National Firearms Register.

$28M over 5 years. Year-by-year profile not separately disclosed in BP4.

More road safety cameras on high-risk sections of state-controlled roads to reduce crashes.

Capital $213.4M over 5 years plus $100.5M per annum ongoing (delivered via TMR), with associated QPS and Queensland Revenue Office operating components. Net capital profile includes negative early-year reprofiling.

Doubles the capacity of Womensline and Mensline so more people experiencing domestic and family violence can get help when they call.

$31.3M to double Womensline and Mensline capacity; complemented by a continued $7.8M HOPE Hub investment. Year-by-year profile not separately disclosed.

New fire and rescue stations in Hervey Bay and Kingaroy improve emergency response and replace ageing facilities.

Capital, $16.0M over 3 years for Hervey Bay and Kingaroy. BP1 cites $31.4 million for new fire stations in Hervey Bay, Kingaroy and Ayr.

Modern fire trucks and equipment to better protect Queensland communities from bushfires.

Capital, $43.4M in 2026-27

Funds upgrades to war memorials and commemorative events, and delivers the State's first Veterans and Veterans' Families Strategy.

$1.4M in 2026-27 for veteran memorials and commemorative events

Modernises ageing government IT systems that underpin frontline services, from building and water systems to health pathology, imaging and transport licensing.

Multiple allocations from the whole-of-government Queensland Government Digital Fund across departments; individual amounts disclosed per measure but no single consolidated 2026-27 total in BP4.

Strengthens the cyber security of government systems that hold Queenslanders' data and deliver essential services.

$5M new over 2 years plus $10M met internally; $15M total over 2 years

Strengthens Queensland's science and innovation ecosystem through programs, partnerships and improved research connectivity.

General Government operating, $22M over 4 years plus $5.5M per annum ongoing

Brings rail all the way to the Sunshine Coast Airport, with Stage 1 construction commencing to connect the fast-growing Sunshine Coast region.

Capital, $460M in 2026-27 within a $5.5 billion project jointly funded with the Federal Government. Later stages (Rail Stage 2, Metro Stage 3) are in early planning with amounts not yet disclosed.

Critical safety works continue on the Bruce Highway to make Queensland's main north-south road safer and more flood-resilient for the communities and industries that depend on it.

$243M Queensland investment in 2026-27 within the $9 billion program jointly funded with the Federal Government under an 80:20 partnership

A generational public transport plan for the Gold Coast, including extending light rail to Biggera Waters and a new rapid service ('The Surfer') from Robina to Coolangatta.

Budgeted amount not displayed in BP4 as contracts have not been awarded. Has both expense and capital components.

Faster, more frequent trains between Logan, the Gold Coast and Brisbane, with works commencing on the Kuraby level crossing replacement.

Capital, $5.75 billion total project jointly funded with the Federal Government. 2026-27 amount not separately disclosed.

New trains for Queensland's rail network are being built in Maryborough, securing local manufacturing jobs in the Fraser Coast region.

$410M committed in 2026-27 within the $9.5 billion program

Flat 50 cent public transport fares are locked in by law, providing permanent cost-of-living relief for commuters across Queensland.

Revenue foregone; legislated as permanent. Annual cost not separately broken out in BP4.

Keeps state-controlled roads and busways maintained and safe for drivers across Queensland.

General Government operating, $93.6M over 4 years

Continues subsidies for wheelchair accessible taxis, helping people with disability travel more affordably.

General Government operating, $6.3M in 2026-27

Wage subsidies help small businesses train and keep apprentices, securing a pipeline of skilled workers for Queensland's future.

$19M over 4 years (wage subsidies). Year-by-year profile not separately disclosed in BP4.

Grants help women return to work after a career break by addressing barriers to participation, particularly in regional and remote areas.

General Government operating. BP4 Jobs Academy shows $4M over two years ($2M in 2026-27); BP1 cites $10 million for future funding rounds of Women's Career Grants plus $2.8M for Backing Female Founders.

Extends a 50% payroll tax rebate for businesses employing apprentices and trainees, encouraging them to take on more young workers.

Revenue measure (revenue foregone), estimated cost $64M in 2026-27. Negative amount denotes revenue foregone. Subject to passage of legislation.