SEQ Mayors welcome additional COVID funding for south-east

The Council of Mayors (SEQ) welcomes the State Government’s decision to allocate an additional $50 million to South East Queensland communities.
The Council of Mayors (SEQ) welcomes the State Government’s decision to allocate an additional $50 million to South East Queensland communities.

The Council of Mayors (SEQ) welcomes the State Government’s decision to allocate an additional $50 million to South East Queensland communities, after the region was short-changed by the State’s recent COVID Works for Queensland funding allocations. 

The SEQ Mayors raised concerns on 3 June when the State Government allocated just 25 percent of a $200 million state-wide funding pool to South East Queensland which is home to more than 70 percent of the state’s population. 

South East Queensland councils received less money per capita in the initial allocation than any other region in Queensland, despite its communities experiencing similar or higher levels of unemployment than its regional counterparts. 

Council of Mayors (SEQ) Chair and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the SEQ Mayors welcomed the State’s decision to reconsider its commitment to the south-east and its recognition that the region faced unique challenges in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“The SEQ Mayors raised their objections directly to the Premier and Local Government Minister, and it’s reassuring to see the State has reconsidered its support of South East Queensland. 

“This an opportunity for the Queensland Government and South East Queensland councils to start working collaboratively to ensure this funding, and future stimulus, is allocated in a fair and equitable way. 

“The time for playing politics is over. We need to work together as one state if we really want to get Queensland moving again. 

“Let’s hope this is the start of governments working together to support all Queenslanders equally,” said Cr Schrinner. 

Council of Mayors (SEQ) Treasurer and Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the additional COVID stimulus funding would provide additional jobs and welcome relief to areas of the south-east that are doing it tough.

“South East Queensland has been excluded from the Works for Queensland program up until this point, despite areas like the Southern Moreton Bay Islands already having twice the state unemployment rate. 

“This funding will provide a much-needed boost and create critical jobs for many areas across South East Queensland.

“Now the conversation needs to turn to ensuring South East Queensland councils remain a part of the Works for Queensland program so our communities are no longer disadvantaged simply because they’re based in the south-east. 

“This is a positive step from the State Government to make the allocation of funding to Queensland councils fairer. Hopefully, it doesn’t stop here,’ said Cr Williams. 

The Works for Queensland program is a $600 million Queensland Government funding program to support Queensland councils to undertake job-creating maintenance and minor works. The program has historically excluded South East Queensland communities.

On 3 June, the Queensland Government allocated an additional $200 million in COVID Works for Queensland stimulus to be shared across all Queensland councils. Of this $200 million, only 25 percent was allocated to the 12 councils in South East Queensland. 

Today, the Queensland Government announced an additional $50 million for a Unite and Recover Community Stimulus Program to support minor works and projects that create local jobs in the most impacted areas of South East Queensland.

South East Queensland is home to more than 70 percent of the Queensland population and generates almost two-thirds of the state’s gross regional product.

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