Budget highlights

Building a strong four pillar economy

Tourism

• An additional $20 million for inward tourism attraction
• $2 million to attract more than 500,000 visitors into Queensland from Asia and Australia

Construction and property

• $15,000 grant for first home owners purchasing a new house or off-the-plan dwelling, together with no duty on new home purchases under $500,000
• Savings for families of up to $7,175 when buying their family home

Resources

• A Cabinet Committee will be established to reduce red tape and regulation for the resource industry
• A 10 year royalty guarantee to provide project certainty over the long term
• $2.5 million to establish the Gasfields Commission

Agriculture

• A standalone Department of Agriculture for the first time since 2009
• $7.6 million for agricultural and horticultural research to increase productivity of key export sectors
• $4.8 million for research to develop Queensland as the food bowl of Asia

Lowering the cost of living

• Saving average families up to $120 on their annual electricity bill by freezing tariff 11 at a cost of $63 million
• Freezing family car registration for more than 2.5 million family vehicles
• Halving public transport fare increases in South East Queensland due in 2013 and 2014
• Providing an $80 rebate on domestic water connections in South East Queensland, at a cost of $92 million
• $97.7 million over four years to boost the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme

Advancing our schools maintenance fund

• The Government will provide $200 million over two years to State School Parents and Citizens' organisations in grants of up to $160,000 per school to help fix the maintenance backlog in State Schools

Elderly parent carer innovation trial

• The Government recognises the need to assist elderly parent carers of disabled children as they reach a point in time when they can no longer care for their children. $15 million will go towards a trial to assist elderly parent carers of disabled children in making arrangements for their children's future care

Revitalised services for all Queenslanders

• The highest health budget in Queensland's history with growth of 7.3%. $1.3 billion will be spent to construct, expand and redevelop hospitals across Queensland, including $51.6 million to improve and upgrade health facilities in regional and remote areas
• 300 new police as part of the Government's plan to deliver 1,100 new police
• $44 million to provide better access to emergency and specialist care
• $28.9 million to provide mums and bubs with additional access to home visits and community clinics during a baby's first year of life
• Full time teacher aides for an additional 150 Prep classes each year in areas of greatest need at a cost of $53.6 million over four years

Helping small business grow

• Increase the payroll tax threshold from $1 million to $1.1 million in 2012-13, with further increases of $100,000 each year until it reaches $1.6 million on 1 July 2017
• Scrap sustainability declarations and other unnecessary red tape