3 March | Queensland Government Update February 2025

How are we at the end of summer already? 

Here are five things the PremierNational team think are worth knowing about from government and politics in Queensland this February! 

As the Crisafulli Government’s 100 day Olympic infrastructure review comes to a close, the Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie revealed how the findings will be finalised and released publicly. 

After more than 5000 submissions to the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority, the final report will be delivered to government on 8 March. The Queensland Government says it then needs a few weeks to consult with the IOC, Brisbane City Council and Australian Government, with Cabinet signing off on the plan on 24 March. 

All will be revealed the next day, on 25 March, as Premier David Crisafulli takes to the stage at a Courier Mail event to announce the details of the Delivery Plan. 

In a sign that the three inner-Brisbane federal electorates (Brisbane, Griffith and Ryan) are in the crosshairs for Labor, the Liberals and the Greens, the Albanese Government made a funding splash this week ahead of the state government’s Olympic infrastructure announcement. 

Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King re-committed $2.5 billion to the Brisbane Arena project as well as $200 million for transport projects including a business case for expanding the Brisbane Metro, restoration of the Story Bridge and planning for an active transport bridge between Toowong and West End. 

Last month we flagged the Queensland Treasurer’s Office of Social Impact as one to watch. Former CEO of Social Enterprise Finance Australia and Chief Impact Officer of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, Ben Gales, has been appointed to lead the office and oversee the $20 million/year Social Entrepreneurs Fund. 

Other appointments made by the new Queensland Government over the last month include: 

  • Former State Minister Andrew Cripps becomes State Recovery Coordinator 

  • Banker Paul Williams appointed Under Treasurer 

  • Barrister April Freeman KC becomes chair of the Making Queensland Safer Laws Expert Legal Panel 

  • Former Queensland Governor and Chief Justice the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC CVO KC is appointed to chair Legal Aid 

  • Barrister Michael Woodford becomes President of the Parole Board 

Premier David Crisafulli and his Ministers will host Community Cabinet in Cairns on Sunday 2 March 2025.  

It’s notable that the far north was chosen as the first Community Cabinet of this government, with the LNP succeeding in winning two seats in the region with Barron River’s Bree James and Mulgrave’s Terry James. 

Expect federal leaders to pay a lot of attention to Cairns and the Cape with the federal seat of Leichhardt in play with long-term LNP MP Warren Entsch retiring.

Following the resignation of Cr Krista Adams, the LNP Council team have selected Coorparoo Councillor Cr Fiona Cunningham to be the Deputy Mayor, while retaining her position as Civic Cabinet Chair for Finance and City Governance. 

The change of leadership comes at a time when the Lord Mayor and his team are responding to budget constraints, industrial action and lobbying both state and federal governments for Olympics infrastructure. 

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