Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
I’d like to thank LGAQ CEO, Alison Smith, for the warm invitation to this year’s annual conference.
It’s really great to be here with you.
It’s also nice to be in QLD without my kids!
Don’t get me wrong, I know how important family holidays are for your economies across Queensland.
But it’s actually quite nice not to be running around in swimmers at a water park!
Just don’t tell my kids I said this!
I’d also like to give a huge shout out to Mayor Matt Burnett, and congratulate him on his appointment as the new Australian Local Government Association National President.
He’s a strong, passionate voice for the sector and I look forward to working with him in this new capacity.
Once a regional mayor myself, I’m can’t help but note that Matt and the two new Vice Presidents all hail from regional Australia!
Like all of you in the room, I’m committed to strengthening the local government sector.
The Albanese Government takes this seriously, because when we work together, we get the best outcomes for our communities.
You are a trusted deliver partner of the services every community across Queensland relies on.
We value this, and we’re investing in it.
We’ve brought you back to the national conversation, at both National Cabinet, and at our two successful Australian Council of Local Government forums.
We had over 770 people from the local government sector participate this year, many from the Sunshine State!
This open-door, collective dialogue is incredibly important, because there’s nothing worse than decisions being made for you – without you – from Canberra.
It’s how we can deliver funding where it’s needed, so that we can continue to get projects that matter to your communities off the ground.
It’s why your input into the federal inquiry into local government sustainability underway right now is incredibly important, because it will help us shape how we can deliver the support you need.
This is one of the reasons we’ve significantly increased road funding to all local councils across Queensland – acting on feedback from you.
Much like my home state of NSW, your roads have more people on them than ever before.
Many of them are regional, and many of them have been totally washed away by extreme weather events.
We are progressively doubling Roads to Recovery from $500 million to $1 billion nationally, which will have a huge impact on how you upgrade and maintain your local roads.
Almost $900 million is flowing to local governments in Queensland over the next five years, a boost of over $353 million thanks to the Albanese Government.
A pipeline of new work will build on the thousands of projects being delivered under Roads to Recovery.
Projects on the roads your communities drive every day – the ones they call or email you about to improve!
This builds on funding under our Road Black Spot program – which is also increasing from $110 million to $150 million per year.
Under this program in this financial year, we’re already supporting 31 Black Spot sites across Queensland, with more than two thirds of this funding supporting projects in regional areas.
Projects like upgrading Kajabbi Road in the Cloncurry Shire – fixing a problem which often saw this road closed during wet weather.
But it’s not just roads that our local communities want to see delivered.
We obviously need safe and reliable roads to get around, because we all have somewhere to go – from work, holidaying, to catching up with family and friends.
That’s why we’re also investing in projects that bring our communities together.
Projects that unlock new jobs and economic opportunities.
We’ve introduced our Growing Regions and Thriving Suburbs programs.
For the first time, a funding opportunity for everyone community – regardless of your postcode.
Projects supported through these programs will be truly region-shaping.
Out of the 40 successful projects under Round 1 of Growing Regions, nine are in Queensland.
Among them is the Agnes Water Skate Park Revitalisation at Gladstone.
This is something long called for by the community – and will really be a whole community facility, because skate parks really are for all ages.
Trust me, there’s vision on my socials to prove that!
I don’t know how good I was, but there’s vision!
In Mackay, the Regional Council will construct the Northern Beaches Community Hub.
This will be a central gathering place for the community, and really change how they come together for major events and activities.
Applications for Round 2 – now with a single stage process, which is updated after feedback from you – closed earlier this month.
A further $393 million is available, and we look forward to seeing many more amazing projects under this round!
One of the big things councils across Queensland talk to me about is housing.
It’s why we’re investing $32 billion in housing initiatives – the biggest investment in over a decade.
This will see 1.2 million new homes built over the next five years, including many in our regions.
But increasing housing supply requires collaboration and investment across all levels of government.
It’s why we launched our $1.5 billion Housing Support Program, to get enabling infrastructure underway, and build more homes sooner.
And they say imitation is the best form of flattery, and I note the Opposition have copied this program, so good on them.
$7 million is flowing to Queensland under Round 1 of our program to 16 projects, with 15 of these in regional locations.
This is where we know more people are moving to, but where we need more housing to attract and retain the workers our community needs.
Among the Queensland funding is support for precinct planning around the new Bundaberg Hospital development.
Support for developing and delivering a Townsville Housing Strategy.
Plus funding to the Torres Shire Council, to develop and deliver a Horn Island Housing Growth Master Plan.
Getting more people under a safe and secure roof starts with strengthen your planning abilities.
The second phase of this program is support for the enabling infrastructure we need to get underway.
Successful applications for those programs will be announced later this year.
I mentioned before roads getting washed away – and that’s just one of the things that happens when our communities are struck by disasters.
All of us in the room can agree that when a disaster does hit us, response and recovery is led from the local level up.
I had this experience myself as Mayor of Bega Valley Shire in NSW – where I had nine declared disasters.
Black Summer bushfires, which were only put out from extreme floods!
Ensuring communities are in the best possible position to recover, but that they’re also better prepared, is something very close to my heart.
My community is still rebuilding, as are so many across Queensland.
I’m really proud of our $1 billion Disaster Ready Fund.
We not long had 165 successful projects under Round 2 this program announced nationally.
This included over $55 million for 29 local projects across Queensland.
Among them is funding for the Burke Shire towards establishing a multi-sensor warning system.
Funding towards a back-up generator for the Badu Council Administration Centre in the Torres Straits.
And funding for a 120-metre long stepped concrete seawall in Deception Bay, to replace a failed rock and shotcrete seawall.
When we work together we get more done – and this is especially the case for Disaster response and recovery.
A partnership approach has been our focus since we came to government.
You’re central to turning federal funding into local results – and I want to thank you for this.
I’d also like to thank LGAQ for your continued support of the sector, and for your advocacy.
I know there will be many productive conversations today, so I’ll let you get to it.
MIL OSI News –