Crisafulli Government’s First Budget delivers for the North
Crisafulli Government’s First Budget delivers for the North
Townsville Enterprise has welcomed major commitments in today’s Queensland Budget that respond directly to the region’s top advocacy priorities under the Unlock the North campaign.
Townsville Enterprise CEO, Claudia Brumme-Smith, said the Budget reflects a strong vote of confidence in North Queensland’s economic future, with over $2.6 billion in regional investment for Townsville North Queensland, in addition to major highway upgrades and housing investment that lays the foundations for a prosperous future.
“The Government has clearly listened to the needs of North Queenslanders, committing to long-term projects that will drive growth and jobs across the North. We acknowledge Premier David Crisafulli, Treasurer David Janetzki and our local members for standing up for the North” Ms Brumme-Smith said.
“Townsville Enterprise will continue to work with the Crisafulli Government as projects are delivered, and we look forward to welcoming and hosting Treasurer Janetzki next week in Townsville.”
“The additional $1.4 billion for CopperString is an historic commitment that will help deliver one of the most transformative infrastructure projects for Northern Australia — a project that will connect critical minerals to market, unlock clean energy, and power regional development for decades to come.”
The Budget’s $2 billion allocation to the Residential Activation Fund has been strongly welcomed, as the region faces growing housing stress and rapid population growth.
“Townsville North Queensland is at a pivotal moment. We’re on the cusp of an industrial and economic boom, but we can’t capitalise on that potential without homes for our workers and communities,” Ms Brumme-Smith said.
“This fund offers a real opportunity to unlock housing developments that have been sitting on the shelf. We’ll be actively working with the State Government to ensure shovel-ready regional projects are prioritised to address both immediate need and long-term supply. Our region is well positioned to apply for this fund, with the first round already in – we look forward to seeing outcomes in this area for Townsville North Queensland.”
The joint Commonwealth and State Government commitment of $9 billion to Bruce Highway upgrades is also a significant win for the North, addressing urgent safety, freight, and flood resilience issues.
“We’ve been advocating for upgrades to the Bruce for decades — and this investment recognises the role this highway plays not just in connecting communities, but in powering our economy,” she said.
“Whether it’s getting goods to port, getting people to work, driving visitors to our region, or ensuring reliable access during the wet season, these upgrades are essential to keeping North Queensland moving and competitive.”
The Budget also delivers increased tourism funding, aligned with Queensland’s new Destination 2045 Strategy, which sets ambitious targets to grow the visitor economy.
“This is a strong vote of confidence in one of our region’s most important and fastest-growing industries — a sector that supports over 9,000 local jobs,” said Ms Brumme-Smith.
“It’s clear the Government recognises tourism as a serious economic driver and job creator for Queensland.”
“Tourism powers thousands of small businesses across Townsville North Queensland, and with this region now among the fastest-growing destinations nationally, this funding must be channelled into product and experience development, as well as strategic marketing to grow our destination’s brand and reach.”
“We acknowledge and thank the Government for including additional funding for aviation attraction, event attraction, new product development, Tourism and Events Queensland and regional tourism bodies in this latest budget.”
“We are pleased to see the $4.9M commitment to the Palm Island Tourism Masterplan detailed in this budget, a game changing opportunity for our tourism sector and the community of Palm Island.”
Health has also been a major winner in today’s announced budget.
“Health has been a clear winner in today’s Budget, and we welcome the strong investment across our region — including additional hospital beds, upgrades to Townsville University Hospital, expansion of the Kirwan Health Campus, and a new CT scanner for Ayr,” said Ms Brumme-Smith.
“Healthcare is the cornerstone of any strong community. It’s not only essential for the wellbeing of our residents — it’s critical to attracting and retaining the workforce we need to support our growing industries. These investments are timely, necessary, and strongly welcomed.”
“It’s positive to see an announcement for the Charters Towers Hospital staff accommodation, an issue that we advocated strongly for during recent parliamentary delegations.”
“This Budget lays solid groundwork, but we continue to be a strong voice for the North to ensure we are securing our future as a region and remain a critical contributor to the State economy,” Ms Brumme-Smith said.
