General News
1 July, 2025
Giving a boost to FNQ
FAR North Queensland has welcomed a multibillion-dollar makeover after Premier David Crisafulli unveiled the 2025-26 state budget, pitching it as a “fresh start” that tackles youth crime, health backlogs, housing shortages and cost-of-living pain.
Key spending includes $560 million for early-intervention programs such as a new regional reset scheme for high-risk teens and a youth justice school for offenders on court orders. The law-and-order push also funds more police recruits, upgrades the Cairns watchhouse and extends Polair aerial patrols across the region.
Health also received a major boost, with significant investment spread across the region. The budget includes $181m to refurbish and expand Cairns Hospital and $19m has been allocated for adolescent mental-health beds, alongside $60m for stage 1 of the new Cairns health and innovation centre. Additionally, the Queensland Ambulance Service’s Cairns operational centre will undergo a $29m rebuild.
Housing gets a lift with 561 social and community homes under construction or contract, while cost-of-living relief arrives via $100 Back to School Boost and $200 Play On! sports vouchers.
New and upgraded infrastructure dominates the transport ledger. A long-awaited Barron River Bridge is fully funded, design work continues on the Kuranda Range upgrade, and a business case will examine raising the Gilbert River crossing on the Savannah Way. Local projects span everything from an LED lighting overhaul at Cooktown Oval to a $6m expansion of Manunda sports precinct.
Tourism and lifestyle ventures also feature, with $15.5m to extend the Smithfield mountain bike trail network and seed funding to progress ecotourism.
Barron River MP Bree James hailed it as a turning point.
“After years of Labor failure, we’re delivering a new Barron River Bridge and planning for Far North Queensland’s future, with roads and infrastructure,” she said.
Mulgrave MP Terry James said the package would benefit the region far and wide, citing upgrades to Edmonton Police Station and Jeff Pezzutti Park among the many community wins.
