Full Submission

In a pre-budget submission outlining the Club’s eight key priorities for the next financial year, Chief Executive Officer David Carter asked for Queensland to receive its fair share of funding for disaster mitigation - particularly given its ongoing exposure to natural disasters.

“Our state incurs 60% of the total cost of Australia’s natural disasters, so Queensland’s share should be considerably more than its population share,” Mr Carter said.

“We are calling for increased funding for private household mitigation and resilience programs particularly the Household (Cyclone) Resilience Program which requires long term budget certainty given its proven effectiveness and popularity in north Queensland.

“We need all levels of government to work together to review land use planning and zoning rules so that we do not keep adding homes to areas at risk of flood and other natural events, which put more people in harm’s way. Building codes also need to be strengthened to ensure homes are built strong enough to withstand the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters”.

Mr Carter said Queenslanders also expect to see a commitment to improve road safety.

“In 2022, our State recorded its worst road toll in more than a decade with 299 fatalities, the majority on regional roads,” he said.

“While RACQ has welcomed the $3 billion Federal Road Safety Program, there are no firm commitments to continue this worthy program.

“If we are to reduce road trauma across Queensland’s vast road network, we need an integrated approach including greater police resources and education to change driver behaviour and building safer roads, particularly in our regions.”

With Queensland being Australia’s fastest growing state, Mr Carter also outlined the need for significant investment in transport and infrastructure to cater for increasing demand.

Some priorities outlined included Intelligent Transport Systems for electric vehicles, finishing highway and motorway projects, rail extensions, duplications and level crossing upgrades, filling gaps in Queensland’s Principal Cycle Network and contributing to Brisbane City Council’s Green Bridge program.

Mr Carter explained any future investment in Queensland’s transport, infrastructure or energy sectors must be done with sustainability front of mind.

“To encourage the manufacturing and uptake of cleaner vehicles, the Federal Government should introduce a CO2 standard, improve fuel quality and vehicle emission standards, and commence work towards delivering a motoring taxation reform to make it fair for all road users.

“Queenslanders are becoming more conscious of their carbon footprint and since the launch of RACQ Solar, we have seen significant demand from our members for renewable energy solutions to meet their changing home and mobility needs.

“We encourage the Commonwealth Government to look for opportunities to support localised renewable energy production, storage and use in addition to large infrastructure projects.”

RACQ acknowledged the commitments the Federal Government had already made to support Queenslanders. The Club hopes the opportunities and recommendations outlined in its submission will be of assistance.

The Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers will hand down the Federal Budget on Tuesday 9^th May 2023.

RACQ’s priorities for Budget funding:

• Natural disaster mitigation and resilience
• Transport safety, productivity and sustainability
• Regional road safety
• Catering for Queensland’s high population growth now and into the future
• Rail infrastructure and railway level crossing upgrade program
• Cycling and active transport including Brisbane Green Bridges
• Future fuels and motoring taxation reform
• Energy and renewables