- The 2023-24 State Budget provides billions of dollars for Darling Downs South West Queensland
- $1.1 billion on infrastructure estimated to support around 3,000 jobs
- $1.3 billion for Darling Downs and South West Hospital and Health Services
- $64.2 million on education to maintain, improve and upgrade schools
Regional infrastructure and service delivery, education, training and employment pathways, housing affordability and accessibility, and economic diversification are the priorities for the members of the Darling Downs South West Queensland Regional Community Forum who meet in Roma on Monday.
Health services are a priority for the Palaszczuk Government, which is why $1.3 billion is in the 2023-24 State Budget for the Darling Downs and South West Hospital and Health Services, and presentations to the forum members include HEALTHQ32, the Palaszczuk Government's 10-year vision for the future of healthcare in Queensland, announced in May.
There will be a regional-specific update on the Queensland Vocational Education and Training (VET) Strategy, which is a key action under the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032.
A panel will also discuss building resilient, inclusive, and liveable communities.
Forum members will also visit the Roma Saleyards, which is the southern hemisphere's largest cattle sale centre with more than 400,000 head moving through each year.
Quote attributable to the Darling Downs South West Queensland Chair, State Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard:
"The region is benefitting from major investments which are supporting thousands of jobs, and I'd like to thank the forum members for supporting our future thinking."
Quote attributable to the Minister for Education, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Racing Grace Grace:
"The Palaszczuk Government is backing the Darling Downs and South West region through billions of dollars of investment in infrastructure, health and hospitals, employment pathways and education.
"We're also delivering cost-of-living relief including our historic policy to make kindy free for all Queensland families."
Quote attributable to the Assistant Minister for Energy Lance McCallum:
"It is fantastic working with the forum members who are engaged with reaching positive outcomes and assisting the Palaszczuk government to support the communities of the Darling Downs and South West Queensland into the future."
Quote attributable to Darling Downs South West Queensland Forum member Louise Winten:
"The engagement between community members, regional stakeholders, and government representatives is crucial in ensuring that the needs of families and communities like mine are met."
Further investment in Darling Downs South West Queensland:
- Approximately $5.7 billion invested in renewable energy in the Darling Downs region supporting approximately 3,500 construction jobs.
- $ 1.3 billion invested in the new Toowoomba Hospital
- $29.9 million for the Millmerran Multi-Purpose Health Service facility
- $16.3 million invested in the Tara Hospital redevelopment
- $17.7 million invested in Charleville Hospital redevelopment
- $17.6 million invested in the Morven Community Clinic redevelopment
- $16.5 million invested in St George Hospital redevelopment
- $1.7 million invested in Injune Multi-Purpose Health Service
Success story:
The Darling Downs South West Regional Community Forum members have been actively working towards reconciliation and Path to Treaty within their Forum Action Plan. This has included a virtual public forum with members and residents from Toowoomba, Chinchilla and Charleville. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members emphasised the importance of grass-roots regional engagement and shared their stories.
Further Background
- The forum is co-chaired by the Jennifer Howard MP and Jim Madden MP.
- The Minister for Education, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Racing Grace Grace, and the Assistant Minister for Energy Lance McCallum are also attending.
- The Darling Downs South West Queensland Regional Community Forum is one of seven to be held in regional centres across the state, with similar forums for Central Queensland, Far North Queensland, North and North West Queensland, Mackay Isaac Whitsunday, Western Queensland, and Wide Bay Burnett Fraser Coast.
- This is the second meeting of the forum members in 2023, with two more Regional Community Forums scheduled throughout the year.
- The Regional Community Forums are supported by the Office for Rural and Regional Queensland.
