Vouchers to help families pay for schoolbooks and excursions for primary school students will be increased to $150. That’s an extra $50 for each Back to School Boost voucher, which the government introduced last year.
This is part of the $9.3 billion cost-of-living relief in the budget, which Treasurer David Janetzki says is “targeted and responsive”.
The government has also committed to legislating 50-cent public transport fares. It previously promised the measure would be permanent, but putting it into law would mean any changes would have to go through parliament.
As the government spruiked ahead of the budget, bulk water charges for south-east Queensland will be frozen for two years, which the government says will result in a $130 saving over two years for households.
The budget also includes a bump to the fuel payment in the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme of 11 cents per kilometre, making it 45 cents per kilometre.
However, there will be no increase to the scheme’s overnight accommodation allowance of $70 per person, which advocates have criticised.
The treasurer has maintained the government’s election promise of “no new or increased taxes”.
Motorists will get another 3.4 per cent increase to vehicle registration — a rise below inflation, which the government has committed to for each year of this term.
In recent weeks, it has also spruiked a drop in retail prices for power in regional and south-east Queensland, which it has called for retailers to pass on.
