The Queensland Government is enabling a creative, connected and clever Queensland through the funding of $950 million for the Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts in the 2014-15 State Budget.
Treasurer Tim Nicholls said that through targeted investment in our creative industries, the Government was continuing to deliver on our strong plan for a brighter future.
“We are also making the Strongest and Smartest Choice to secure our finances so we can reduce debt and reinvest funds into the infrastructure and services we know this growing state is going to need,” Mr Nicholls said.
“We’re continuing to revitalise frontline services and the Budget includes more than $72.4 million this year to deliver the Government Wireless Network as Brisbane gears up for the G20 Summit in November.”
Science, IT and Innovation Minister Ian Walker said the landmark Government Wireless Network project would connect thousands of police, ambulance, fire and emergency officers to the one secure digital network for the first time.
“This is a vital update to improve emergency services for all Queenslanders, a project that had been put in the too hard basket by previous Governments,” Mr Walker said.
“This government promised to revitalise frontline services and the Government Wireless Network is a great example of achieving what we said we’d do.
“It allows emergency services officers to share information instantly and coordinate between multiple agencies.”
Mr Walker said $8.1 million would go towards the One-Stop Shop initiative to improve the way Queenslanders receive their services from the government.
“This is another innovative way of cutting red tape and making it easier for Queenslanders to engage with the Government,” he said.
“One-Stop Shop has more than 50 new services online, including online drivers’ licence renewal, so we’re on target to achieve 100 new online services by the end of 2014.
“As part of the One-Stop Shop initiative, we’ll be rolling out a raft of mobile and digital services in a pilot program now underway in the Lockyer Valley and Scenic Rim regions.
“What we learn here will help to shape how we improve services in other parts of Queensland.”
Other key funding commitments include:
- $3.1 million over two years to make tactical improvements in cyber security and awareness within Queensland Government departments
- $2.5 million to support critical research into ageing dementia by the Queensland Brain Institute at the University of Queensland
- $14.3 million to James Cook University towards the establishment of the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine across three centres in Townsville, Cairns and the Torres Strait
Mr Nicholls said the 2014-15 State Budget carefully balanced increases in education, health and transport, while not introducing or raising any new taxes or reducing services.
“To sustain the progress we’ve already made we must reduce debt so we can truly keep building on our strong plan for a brighter future,” he said.
