Coalition LRCIP a gamechanger that Labor must match

Published on 14 April 2025

Queensland councils have hailed a $1 billion Federal Coalition funding announcement for councils, including $500 million for all councils for community infrastructure, as a gamechanger for local communities across the state, giving them desperately needed funding certainty. 

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) is calling on Federal Labor to now show its support for councils and local communities by urgently matching this commitment. 

LGAQ President Mayor Matt Burnett said the $1 billion commitment – including $500 million under a Resilience and Community Infrastructure stream for every council to deliver community infrastructure as well as $500 million for regional and rural councils to maintain and improve local roads – made good on a key election commitment Queensland councils had been seeking from the major parties. 

“This announcement from the Federal Coalition of ongoing, sustainable allocative funding is an absolute gamechanger for Queensland councils,” Mayor Burnett said. 

“We thank Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, Leader of the Nationals David Littleproud and Shadow Minister for Local Government Darren Chester for listening to councils and delivering through this crucial funding commitment. 

“We urge Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Labor to match this commitment.” 

LGAQ CEO Alison Smith said the current funding model for Queensland councils was outdated and was leaving them and their local communities stuck in the ’70s, making this funding commitment from the Federal Coalition just so important.  

“Communities rely on the services that councils deliver, and in this current cost of living crisis, that dependency is even higher,” Ms Smith said.  

“Councils provide critical community services, as well as festivals, recreational, cultural and sporting facilities, all the things that require significant community infrastructure spending – which is why LRCIP is so important. 

“Councils need to be funded appropriately to provide community liveability, and none of us should be forced to live year to year, Federal Budget to Federal Budget, not knowing if there will be critical  funding or not. 

“Councils should not be forced to compete for funding to deliver critical services and infrastructure for their communities.  

“The current funding councils are receiving under the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LRCIP) has already been reduced and without intervention, it will disappear completely on June 30 next year. 

“That’s why we have been fighting so hard to secure a commitment to permanent, legislated community infrastructure funding, because every Queensland community deserves to be a liveable one. 

“If Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Labor party want the support of local communities then they need to match this commitment immediately.” 

Modelling undertaken by the LGAQ shows Queenslanders stand to miss out on an average $150 each in grassroots funding if the LRCIP is discontinued. 

The LRCIP funding allocation provided to Queensland councils is estimated to contribute approximately $668 million to Queensland’s economy, supporting almost 4000 fulltime equivalent jobs across the state, including almost 1300 direct jobs.  

More information on the campaign can be viewed at www.dontleaveusinthe70s.com.au.  

View LRCIP spend and impact per Federal electorate here.

For more information, please contact:

Michael Prain, Media Executive