2025 Queensland State Budget

New Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki has just delivered the first budget of the new LNP Government. While the budget has widely been described as no frills, there are significant positives for Queensland strata, which we are proud to have been advocates for.   

Commissioners Office Increased Funding

We are proud to see, after years of ongoing advocacy, certainty across this term of Parliament for substantial additional funding for the Office of the Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management.  The Government is delivering increased funding of $4.3 million over 4 years and $1.1 million per annum ongoing for the Office of the Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management to deliver information, education and dispute resolution services for all Queenslanders according to budget papers. This is a huge win for all stakeholders, managers, lot owners and service providers who will be able to access quality education and dispute resolution services in a timely manner.  This is a big win, and we look forward to continuing positive collaboration with the Office of the Commissioner to ensure a thriving strata sector.

Support for Small Business

Whilst some strata businesses have grown over the years to have large, national presences, the vast majority are small and medium family run enterprises. This personal level of service and touch is something that helps make our industry so unique. For this important cohort, there is plenty of love. The Government is providing some key funding and policy changes for our small business members including:

• $44.7 million over 5 years to boost productivity with a suite of initiatives including a Business Concierge for small business accessing government services, two new grant programs and regional innovation and start-up hubs. This funding also includes a refocus on the Small Business Commissioner on red tape reduction and dispute resolution, and to simplify small business procurement processes, standardise contracts and support smaller tenders.

• $25.1 million in 2025–26 to deliver a consolidated online services experience for Queenslanders.

• $16.8 million over 3 years to empower small business through the Small Business Support Network with financial counselling and coaching.

If you are a small business, make sure to examine how these programs might work for you and help ensure you have the support you need to continue to thrive. 

Infrastructure Investment – Unlocking Strata in Transport CorridorsThe Government is delivering substantial public transport infrastructure which will form the backbone for more high density development across the State. This includes:

• Additional funding for the Wave Sunshine Coast. The Wave was announced as part of the 2032 Delivery Plan for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond. It will include a heavy passenger rail line from Beerwah to Birtinya, connecting with a metro-style service to allow journeys to the Sunshine Coast Airport via Mountain Creek and Maroochydore CBD. This will help boost strata along that corridor.

• $28 million over 4 years and $11.6 million ongoing from 2029–30 to deliver new bus services including permanently implementing the Gold Coast on Demand Transport and partnering with the Brisbane City Council to establish a new Gold City Glider service connecting Portside Hamilton to Woolloongabba. Both these projects will encourage densification locally. 

It is important that we as a sector understand our place in the broader economy – as a facilitator of smarter cities, more affordable housing and easier access to jobs and services through public transport. Public transport spines are critical to the future of strata, and we will always back them as an organisation. 

Support for First Home Buyers – a Win for Strata

The big headline commitment for strata is the Government’s new help to buy scheme. Singles earning up to $150,000 and households with two adults earning up to $225,000 will be eligible under the $165m Boost to Buy program. The government will invest up to 30 per cent equity for new builds and 25 per cent for existing homes, up to a value of $1m. For a new property valued at $750,000, an approved applicant with a minimum deposit of $15,000 could receive an equity contribution of up to $225,000.These thresholds favour strata, and we can expect his will lead to an uptick of first home buyers in strata.These measures are in addition to the doubling of the first homeowners grant to $30,000 and the abolition of stamp duty for new builds. All of these measures are going to make it easier to build more strata and will result in more Queenslanders living in strata.  

Housing Infrastructure Investment

The first billion dollars of investment in the Residential Activation Fund, a fund designed to help deliver new housing will be delivered this coming financial year.  It provides funding to get infill and greenfield land ready for new housing developments, through the delivery of trunk and essential infrastructure. This will provide confidence and certainty for developers and lead to more strata lots. 

Taxation Changes

In addition to the exciting changes to stamp duty for first home buyers, the treasurer announced the government is reviewing how applications for ex gratia relief from foreign surcharges are assessed, to support the timely, expedited flow of capital to deliver housing, industrial and agricultural investment. SCAQ will work with other stakeholders to ensure that these proposed changes lead to more foreign investment in new strata.

Conclusion

Whilst it’s been described as no frills, this budget is full of significant wins for our industry and hope for many more.