Changes to support regional Queensland patients a 'drop in the ocean'

Queensland budget to include increase for patient travel subsidy scheme Sun 21 Jun 2026 at 3:04pm In short: The Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme's fuel payment is set to increase by 11 cents per kilometre for regional Queenslanders to access medical care. Rural patient advocate Justine Christerson said changes to the scheme were simply a "drop in the ocean". What's next? The Queensland state budget will be handed down on Tuesday. An increase in the subsidy to support regional Queenslanders travelling to access healthcare has been labelled "a drop in the ocean" by advocates, as the government unveils its cost-of-living measures in Tuesday's state budget. The fuel payment is set to increase by 11 cents per kilometre, from 34 cents to 45 cents, with an additional $17 million for the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme. Treasurer David Janetzki also reaffirmed his commitment of no new or increased taxes in the budget, taking a swipe at his federal counterpart in doing so. "I'm not Jim Chalmers, and we're not the Albanese government," Mr Janetzki said. "We're keeping our promises." Rural patient advocate Justine Christerson said changes to the travel subsidy scheme were "very disappointing" and simply a "drop in the ocean". "That is the response I am receiving from those who are receiving that reimbursement," Ms Christerson said. She said she would like to see the fuel payment increased to 86 cents per kilometre. Premier David Crisafulli said the rate would be lifted to be "the most generous in the country". "But it is a small price to pay for the most decentralised state," Mr Crisafulli said. "I acknowledge this is going to fall a long way short still of those big costs they face." The $70 subsidy per person a night for accommodation would not change, with Mr Crisafulli noting the government "had a long way to go". "I fear the petrol rate isn't enough and the fact that accommodation subsidies have been overlooked is a real kick in the guts," Ms Christerson said. However, she welcomed the government's commitment to reduce the time patients had to wait to be reimbursed from within 30 days to one week. "That is going to be the significant change to many patients' experiences," she said. Shadow treasurer Shannon Fentiman said while Labor welcomed the increase to the scheme, she believed "it doesn't go far enough". Water, energy bill relief promised The budget is also set to include a two-year freeze on bulk water prices in south-east Queensland. "That freeze will save households $130 over two years, and depending on the business, the savings will range between $50 and up to $300," Mr Janetzki said. While spruiking the upcoming budget, the treasurer reiterated his call for energy retailers to pass on savings to customers. Earlier this month the Queensland Competition Authority confirmed a 6.9 per cent drop in electricity costs for regional households and 8.1 per cent for small businesses from July 1 in its pricing determination for the next financial year. Mr Janetzki has directed government-owned Ergon Energy to pass this on to customers. It follows a 7.2 per cent decrease in the flat rate for the state's south-east corner, set by the Australian Energy Regulator in late May. "If I need to name and shame to get retailers to do the right thing, that's exactly what I will be doing," Mr Janetzki said. Mr Janetzki said the LNP's first budget was about "laying the foundations", while Tuesday's would be about "strengthening them". Mr Crisafulli said while changes to payroll taxes, which have been called for by peak business groups, was an issue he would "love to address in the future", the government had "big challenges financially". "I put payroll tax as one of those things I would love to get the budget in a position to do something about that," he said. Opposition says measures 'underwhelming' Mr Crisafulli said the government was committed to "structural change" and promised more cost-of-living measures would be unveiled when the budget was handed down on Tuesday. The opposition said the measures in the budget to address cost-of-living that the government had so far outlined were "pretty underwhelming". "There is nothing in this cost of living plan around housing affordability or affordability that Queenslanders can rely on day-to-day trying to pay their bills," Ms Fentiman said.