- Budget is strengthening the foundations for a fresh start with the LNP’s Permanent 50 Cent Fares, the Gold Coast Transport Plan, a better Bruce Highway, The Wave and Country Roads Connect.
- Relief you can rely on with the LNP’s Permanent 50 Cent Fares to be locked-in law.
- Delivering generational transport infrastructure in the Gold Coast Transport Plan and The Wave all the way to the Sunshine Coast Airport.
- Fixing the Bruce Highway under the jointly-funded $9 billion Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program.
- Delivering better transport with up to 630 additional buses in the Better Buses Build from 2026-27.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering for Queensland with the LNP’s Permanent 50 Cent Fares locked-in law, generational infrastructure on the Sunshine and Gold Coast, fixing the Bruce Highway, and safer more resilient regional roads in the 2026-27 Budget.
The $55.9 billion Budget for safer roads and better transport is strengthening the foundations for a fresh start by building Queensland’s future.
The Crisafulli Government’s Permanent 50 Cent Fare will be locked-in law, delivering relief you can rely on and secured forever.
Labor treated 50 Cent Fares as a pre-election sugar hit, spending more on advertising the trial, than on making it permanent, and didn’t fund the scheme beyond a trial.
Locking-in law the LNP’s Permanent 50 Cent Fares means a future Labor Government can never hike the cost of public transport on Queensland families facing national cost of living pressures.
The Safer Roads, Better Transport Budget highlights include:
- The new Gold Coast Transport Plan with a new light rail from Gold Coast University Hospital to Biggera Waters, as well as The GC Surfer, a new metro-style service from Robina through Varsity Lakes to Burleigh and on to the Gold Coast Airport.
- Faster Rail to the Gold Coast will deliver time-saving and safety improvements with the removal of the Kuraby level crossing, which is already in the early stages of works.
- The Better Buses Build will secure up to 630 new buses, to help upgrade the fleet in South East Queensland to support the Crisafulli Government’s investment across the public transport network.
- Fixing the Bruce Highway with critical safety works under the jointly-funded $9 billion program, under a restored 80:20 funding deal with the Federal Government.
- A record $55 billion roads and rail pipeline, to continue progressing project across the state, including the Caloundra Congestion Busting Plan, the Mooloolah River Interchange Upgrade, the Bribie Island Bridge and the Barron River Bridge.
- Stage 1 of The Wave all the way to Caloundra is underway with contracts for construction awarded and funded in this budget. Planning is progressing for Stages 2 and 3 extending through to Birtinya and the Maroochydore CBD, then on to the Sunshine Coast Airport.
- The $100 million Country Roads Connect program is delivering upgrades to unsealed regional roads, boosting safety and flood resilience.
In contrast to the Crisafulli Government’s record investment, the former Labor Government failed to secure an 80:20 funding deal for the Bruce Highway and told Queenslanders it couldn’t be done.
Labor failed to address the Caloundra Carpark, they failed to deliver a vision for the Gold Coast, and they failed to deliver the roads and infrastructure for Queensland’s growing population.
Treasurer David Janetzki said the 2026-27 Budget was about delivering for Queensland’s future.
“We are delivering on our promises, with relief you can rely on through responsible decisions for now and the future, and no new or increased taxes,” Treasurer Janetzki said.
“This Budget strengthens the foundations we’ve laid in making Queensland safer, restoring health services, delivering a place to call home for more Queenslanders, building generational infrastructure, getting the Games back on track, as well as playing our part to ease national cost of living pressures.”
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said the Budget delivered safer roads and better transport with relief you can rely on through Permanent 50 Cent Fares locked-in law.
“This Budget will transform our public transport network with the Gold Coast Transport Plan, Logan-Gold Coast Faster Rail, the Townsville and Cairns Airport Buses and The Wave on the Sunshine Coast – and we’re guaranteeing all Queenslanders can benefit from our generational infrastructure investment, with the LNP’s Permanent 50 Cent Fares locked-in law,” Minister Mickelberg said.
“Queenslanders across the State will benefit every time they get into the car with our 80:20 Bruce Highway funding deal, record investment in the Barron River Bridge, the Mooloolah River Interchange, and the Caloundra Congestion Busting Plan.
“Throughout the state, we’re getting on with what we said we’d do. Our record investment into Queensland’s roads and infrastructure helping fight congestion, make our roads safer, deliver more reliable public transport, lock in the LNP’s Permanent 50 Cent Fares, and build the transport network for Queensland’s future.”
