Budget 2008-09
Early Years Centres
The Queensland Government is investing in a positive future for young children and their families. A total of $32 million over four years has been allocated to establish Early Years Centres at Nerang, Caboolture, Browns Plains and Cairns to support parents and carers in their nurturing role.
Service Delivery Statements are available on the Queensland Treasury website.
Message from the Minister
Budget highlights
The department’s 2008–09 Budget provides for $680.9 million in recurrent expenditure, an increase of 14 per cent over the 2007–08 Budget.
The 2008–09 Budget features a $72.6 million injection of new funding over four years. This comprises $35.4 million recurrent and $2 million non-recurrent funding and $35.2 million capital funding.
Additional funding will be invested in the following initiatives for 2008–09:
Planning for early childhood reforms
- $2 million in 2008–09 to fund the implementation of planned national early childhood development reforms.
Assistance for people who are homeless
- $0.7 million recurrent funding augmented by $2.9 million from funding identified by the department to provide emergency services and accommodation for people experiencing homelessness.
Building capacity to improve youth justice services
- $3.8 million recurrent funding and $16.4 million capital funding, as part of $17.3 million recurrent and $23.7 million capital over four years, to manage increased demand for youth justice services.
The funding increase for 2008–09 is comprised of:
- $11.4 million capital funding to acquire land and undertake master planning to provide additional youth detention centre capacity.
- $2 million recurrent funding to improve the capacity of supervision and diversionary services for young people on youth justice orders; and
- $1.8 million recurrent and $5 million capital funding to improve case management of young people on youth justice orders through the Integrated Client Management System.
Maintaining infrastructure and assets
- $2.4 million in recurrent funding and $4.5 million in capital funding, as part of $9.8 million recurrent funding over four years and $6.7 million capital funding over two years to upgrade, repair and maintain community infrastructure and assets owned by the department.
Seniors Legal and Support Service to be continued
- The department has also identified a further $1.9 million to continue the Seniors Legal and Support Service pilot program.
Raising the profile of multiculturalism
- A further $1 million will be provided in 2008–09 to continue to raise the profile of multiculturalism in Queensland through programs, events and activities.
Early Years Centres
The Queensland Government is investing in a positive future for young children and their families. A total of $32 million over four years has been allocated to establish Early Years Centres at Nerang, Caboolture, Browns Plains and Cairns to support parents and carers in their nurturing role.
Safe Havens initiative
The Safe Haven initiative is a support service now established in Cherbourg, Palm Island, Mornington Island and Coen.
Service Delivery Statements
Service Delivery Statements are available on the Queensland Treasury website.