State Budget 2016

June 17, 2016

Cheaper transport fares and additional support for small business will complement funding for education, child safety and disability services in the Algester electorate announced in the 2016-17 Queensland State Budget.

Member for Algester and Innovation and Small Business Minister Leeanne Enoch welcomed the funding for the local community and said the whole community would benefit from the Budget announcements.

“By simplifying the public transport fare system, more than 93 per cent of Queenslanders will benefit from cheaper fares,” Ms Enoch said.

“Many local residents use public transport to get to and from work and school and these changes will have a real impact on the weekly household budget.

“We’re also introducing the Office of Small Business to provide additional support for small businesses – including helping them to engage with the digital economy.

“There are 3165 small businesses operating in the Algester electorate and this additional support will help them to expand their businesses and potentially reach international markets.”

This week’s budget also announced $300,000 in funding for Grand Avenue State School to refurbish three existing Special Education Program Learning Space areas.

Ms Enoch said investing in local education infrastructure now would deliver benefits into the future for the community.

“As we move towards the knowledge-based economy of the future, it is vital that we provide our children with the best possible learning environment,” Ms Enoch said.

“To prepare the next generation for the jobs of the future we have to equip them with the tools to make the most of the opportunities the new economy will present.

“I’m proud to be part of a government which is committing record funding to education.”

Other new and ongoing funding programs benefiting the local community announced in the budget include:

• $11.2 million to assist people with a disability and their families to access the support and services they need, including funding for Corporate Development Services and Wapdas in Parkinson and UnitingCare in Boronia Heights.
• $4.87 million of ongoing funding to ensure children in need of protection have a safe place to stay – including organisations like Mercy Community Services in Algester and Doolandella;
• $636,000 for services to support families to safely care for their children, including funding for The Spot Community Services in Parkinson;
• $124,000 to support young people and the community, including funding for the Salvation Army at Forest Lake; and,

$822,000 to assist persons under 65 or an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person aged under 50, with a disability or condition that restricts their day-to-day living to stay living at home, including funding for Flexible Living in Hillcrest.

Find out more http://budget.qld.gov.au/