Federal Budget a missed opportunity to shape Ipswich’s future
Published on 14 May 2026
While some tax relief is on the way for Ipswich households, this week’s Federal Budget delivered no new infrastructure commitments for the city despite its growth being the fastest of any council in Queensland.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the 2026-2027 Federal Budget was a missed opportunity for the Australian Government to play its part in better managing Ipswich’s rapid growth.
“With a population of 270,000 projected to double over the next 20 years, Ipswich is at a critical juncture when it comes to community, sporting and transport infrastructure, with our highways and main roads increasingly congested,” Mayor Harding said.
“I was disappointed to see that savings from the Australian Government’s recent decision to scrap the Queensland portion of the Inland Rail were not re-invested back into crucial rail infrastructure for our state, primarily in the Ipswich to Springfield Central public transport corridor.
“The savings brought on by this decision should have been put toward city-defining major infrastructure long advocated for by council.
“Council’s 2026-27 Federal Budget submission provided evidence of Ipswich’s need for construction funding for the Ipswich to Springfield Central public transport corridor, a new Amberley Interchange on the Cunningham Highway, final environmental approvals for the Mt Crosby Road interchange, Centenary Highway duplication, upgrades on the Ripley Road intersections on the Cunningham and Centenary highways, Ipswich Central second river crossing, the next stage of the North Ipswich Sport and Entertainment Precinct and a synthetic athletics track.
“Our community has been tasked by the Australian and Queensland governments to take on enormous population growth over the next 30 years yet in this Budget we received zero new funding for transport, community and sporting infrastructure.
“The Ipswich community will no doubt be asking, how are people supposed to travel to work, school or the shops? Where will they play sport? Where will our community groups meet and support our community?
“The Australian Government receives 81 cents for each tax dollar collected – with only three cents per dollar going to councils – which means when the Australian Government does not do its fair share in Ipswich it is ultimately ratepayers left to fill the infrastructure funding gap or go without.
“Ipswich residents deserve better than this.”
Mayor Harding said as a Defence and manufacturing city, Ipswich was well-positioned to benefit from the Australian Government’s $53 billion Defence spending increase over the next decade.
Mayor Harding said council may also benefit from the Budget’s establishment of a competitive $2 billion Local Infrastructure Fund for essential infrastructure to support new housing, and a competitive $750 million for small-scale community infrastructure under Thriving Suburbs and Growing Regions programs.
“These initiatives are important to support council’s efforts to foster strong, connected and vibrant communities and preserve our family-oriented way of life, however Ipswich City Council will be one of 537 councils in Australia competing for some of this funding,” Mayor Harding said.
“But with an annual population growth rate of 3.5 per cent and projections we will continue to grow faster than any other council in the state over the next 20 years, we cannot continue to be overlooked when it comes to investment in major infrastructure.
“Council will continue to fight for the investment in the major city-shaping projects needed to take our city into the future.”
Ipswich City Council’s 2026-27 Federal Budget submission is available here.
For more information about Ipswich City Council’s Regionally Significant Projects visit Ipswich.qld.gov.au/advocacy