Treasurer Cameron Dick has enjoyed a tax windfall.Credit:Dan Peled/ Getty Images
He said Queensland’s COVID-19 policies helped the state economy rebound quicker than others and would ensure the next budget deficit was only one-tenth of the Victorian government’s $17 billion deficit.
“So we’re seeing how all of that revenue lines come back with the stamp duty,royalties,state taxation,because we kept our people safe,we kept our economy open as far as we could,” Dick told reporters.
“We didn’t suffer from those crushing lockdowns that NSW and Victoria in particular had to live through,in the south-east we had about 21 days total lockdown during those two years.
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“But our revenue lines are coming back and that’s because of the great work of Queenslanders,they fought hard against COVID-19. We kept our economy open,we kept businesses going,and we’re now getting that dividend and we’re giving that dividend back to Queenslanders.”
However,he stressed the state was set for two more budget deficits before an expected return to surplus in 2024-25.
The treasurer announced budget funding for the construction of a $72 million regional aeromedical hub at Brisbane Airport on Friday along with $334 million in funding for the Royal Flying Doctor Service over the next 10 years.