Queensland's budget is expected to take a "big hit" from cyclone Debbie, but the full size of the hole remains to be seen.
The category 4 cyclone is estimated to have caused billions of dollars worth of damage to the Whitsundays region while flooding also wrought major havoc down the state's coastline.
Treasurer Curtis Pitt had previously expected to post a $2 billion surplus when he hands down his third budget on June 13, but now concedes that will be much smaller because of the cost of the disaster.
"There is still much work to be done when it comes to the budget, but we will be focusing on helping communities recover following these natural disasters," Mr Pitt said on Tuesday.
"It is, of course, something that will dominate the budget."
Mr Pitt said it was still "absolutely his intention" to deliver a budget surplus, but they had to work with the cards they had been dealt.
Adding to the treasurer's woes is the fact that on top of the cost of the disaster, coal production in the region has suffered setbacks, meaning at least part of the royalties that would have generated the big surplus won't arrive before budget time.
Shadow treasurer Scott Emerson said the government shouldn't be relying on unexpected windfalls to balance the books.
"This is a state that suffers from natural disasters, you have to manage the budget. You don't manage it on a hope, a wish and a prayer," Mr Emerson said.
"If we hadn't had those unexpected royalties, we'd be in real trouble now."
The warning came as the minority Labor government unveiled its Advancing Trade and Investment strategy, with a focus on foreign exports, and encouraging university enrolments in the science and engineering fields.
