Qld attacks Hockey's '2nd horror budget'

Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt has accused his federal counterpart, Joe Hockey, of shifting costs to the state in his second budget.

Joe Hockey has delivered a second horror budget for Queensland, the state's treasurer says.

The federal treasurer says the state will get more education, schools and road funding, GST revenue and access to a new $5 billion Northern Australia development loan facility.

But Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt says his state still stands to lose about $18 billion in federal funding over the next decade.

He's attacked the federal government for failing to present a clear jobs plan and failing to allocate funding to state rail projects.

"This is yet another exercise in cost-shifting to the states and Queenslanders will have to pay a dear price for Mr Hockey's financial mismanagement," Mr Pitt said on Tuesday night.

But shadow treasurer John-Paul Langbroek says the federal government has given the state Labor government a huge boost.

"It's now up to them to put some meat on the bone and actually tell people what they're going to do," he told AAP.

The Queensland Chamber of Commerce and Industry is delighted with tax cuts and deductions, which will benefit the state's 403,000 small businesses.

"It's an absolute bonanza," Advocacy Director Nick Behrens told AAP.

"I have been doing this for 20 years and I cannot remember seeing a budget that is so small-business friendly."

Farmers said $333 million in drought assistance was an investment in the future of agriculture in the state.

Both business groups hold concerns that the Senate may block the budget.

Queensland Council of Social Services CEO Mark Henley said there were some positives in the budget, but it seemed to lack a long-term plan for good social outcomes.

"We'll be interested to see more of the detail of this budget and what it really means for our most vulnerable people," he told AAP.

WWF Australia said $100 million in funding to fight chemical pollution in the Great Barrier Reef fell far short of the $500 million needed.


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Source: AAP


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