$162m in Qld Budget to ‘help’ Close the Gap
The Queensland Government is to deliver practical initiatives to help Close the Gap in Indigenous communities, according to State Budget papers released today.
The $167.2 million Women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Multiculturalism Budget plans to strengthen the foundations for a “fresh start, with better services through a stronger economy”.
21 new public health and critical and essential infrastructure projects will be delivered in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through the Closing the Gap Priorities Fund with $73 million.
The Multicultural Connect grants program will help to build stronger communities with support to upgrade community halls, meeting spaces or sporting facilities for community use with $3.75 million this financial year.
“The former Government failed to invest in women’s economic security, focused on stoking division rather than delivering tangible outcomes for our First Peoples, and spread fear over facts in culturally diverse communities which weakened social cohesion,” a statement from the Budget papers said.
Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki (left) and Queensland Premier David Crisafulli (right) are seen talking to the media before the handing down of the 2025-26 Queensland state budget at Queensland Parliament in Brisbane. (AAP Photo)
Treasurer David Janetzki said the 2026-27 Budget was about delivering for Queensland with better services through a stronger economy.
“We are delivering on our promises, with relief you can rely on through responsible decisions for now and the future, and no new or increased taxes,” Mr Janetzki said.
“This Budget strengthens the foundations we’ve laid in making Queensland safer, restoring health services, delivering a place to call home for more Queenslanders, building generational infrastructure, getting the Games back on track, as well as playing our part to ease national cost of living pressures.”
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Fiona Simpson said the Budget would deliver practical support for Queensland’s diverse communities to overcome economic and social barriers to fully participate and thrive.
“This Budget is about delivering practical support where it can make a real difference in communities, workplaces and the everyday lives of Queenslanders,” she said.
“By investing in public health and critical and essential infrastructure in Indigenous communities, we are backing locally prioritised projects that help deliver real tangible outcomes, better services and stronger foundations for the future.
“We are also supporting more women to pursue their career goals, improving women’s economic security and helping our culturally diverse communities upgrade the spaces that bring people together.”
