Queensland councils have welcomed specific funding for Northern Australia. 

The Morrison Government’s 2021-2022 Budget includes almost $190 million in commitments to Northern Australia, as well as funding for disaster mitigation, regional and remote communities, climate resilience and drought.

The pledges “will be welcomed in all corners of Queensland”, according to Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) CEO, Greg Hallam.

“The announcement last week of a $10 billion reinsurance pool for cyclone and related flood damage demonstrated that councils’ sustained advocacy has paid off,” he said. 

“We’re very happy to see that further supported by the $40 million allocation for cyclone risk mitigation works for strata title properties in North Queensland and a $61 million investment in improving national preparedness for and recovery from natural disasters and other hazards. 

“It’s also significant that the Regional Connectivity Program invests $68.5 million in digital connectivity for Northern Australia and remote Indigenous communities, where digital disadvantage has long been a serious barrier to growth. 

“Building and maintenance of roads remains a key responsibility of all councils and the extension of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LRCIP) from two to four years, with an additional $1 billion of funding is tremendous news.” 

Queensland councils are set to receive $261.9 million in Federal Assistance Grants – a slight increase on the $244.2 million received in 2020-21.  

“The LGAQ has long campaigned for Federal Assistance Grants to local government to be set at 1 per cent of Commonwealth taxation revenue and the 0.6 per cent in this Budget is a disappointingly long way short of that,” Mr Hallam said. 

“One per cent of the total tax pool would completely rewrite the book for the financial sustainability of councils and we, in league with our interstate counterparts and the Australian Local Government Association, will continue to fight for local government’s fair share.”