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AAP
AAP
Business
Fraser Barton and Nick Gibbs

Qld govt looks set to lift coal royalties

Queensland is likely to increase coal royalties for the first time in a decade when the state budget is handed down on June 21.

Treasurer Cameron Dick says coalminers have enjoyed a 10-year royalty freeze, but that's set to change.

"We're working through that detail at the moment, but ultimately we're talking to the industry about that, and then we'll make an announcement at an appropriate time," he told reporters on Wednesday.

State coal, gas and mineral exports hit a record high of $77 billion between March 2021 and 2022, according to the Queensland Resources Council.

QRC chief executive Macfarlane said miners would fork out more than $6 billion in royalties to the state government in 2021/22.

"Resources royalties go straight into the Queensland budget to pay for doctors, nurses, teachers and other state-funded essential services and infrastructure," he said.

Ahead of the 2022/23 budget, Queensland doctors have called on more the government to fund $2 billion towards ambulance ramping, fill gaps in mental health and address unmet need in palliative care.

The Australian Medical Association Queensland says 1500 more hospital beds are needed across the state, at a cost of about $1.2 billion, to help address ambulance ramping.

"The Omicron outbreak, combined with the reopening of borders and the winding back of public health measures, has led to thousands of healthcare workers being infected or furloughed as close contacts," AMAQ president Maria Boulton said.

"Elective surgeries have been further delayed. Patients are waiting longer on ambulance stretchers to be admitted to emergency departments, let alone into overflowing hospital wards."

As well as more beds, the AMA wants to see another $700 million toward mental health and more than $120 million for palliative care, as well as investments in workplace safety and digital health technology.

Meanwhile, businesses want red-tape relief and help reducing their carbon footprint, the Queensland Chamber of Commerce and Industry said.

CCIQ chief executive Heidi Cooper said more than half of businesses surveyed said red-tape reform was among their top state budget priorities.

"This budget should continue to address the past period of upheaval, while also future-proofing businesses, removing hurdles and enabling our skilled workforce to provide Queensland with a competitive advantage," she said.

Businesses also want the budget to guarantee to ongoing funding for the EcoBiz program, designed to help businesses reduce their waste, water, and energy usage.

Close to 40 per cent of businesses said investment incentives for sustainable practices were among their top priorities.

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