Redlands MP Kim Richards has followed the lead of former LNP MP Matt McEachan in seeking that Redlands be listed as a separate region in the state budget.
She has started talks with Treasurer Jackie Trad in an effort to ensure Redlands becomes a budget line item.
Mr McEachan argued that Redlands was missing out on funding due to the anomaly which is understood to be caused at least in part by budget areas being divided up on a statistical rather than geographical basis.
This was despite it being a city of about the same size as Cairns which had its own place in the budget.
Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad said she would investigate the matter.
“Kim has had a chat with me and we will have a look into it as part of the budget process,” she said. “We are always keen to do whatever we can to advance local economies across Queensland.”
Ms Richards said it would help Redlands if it had its own budget place.
“In securing identification as a separate region within the budget we would be able shine a spotlight on the opportunities to grow our regional economy and seek to address the challenges experienced both on the mainland and within our island communities to drive a positive economic agenda into the future for the Redlands,” Ms Richards said.
With its mainland and island communities, Redlands was one of the largest and most complex coastal regions in Queensland.
She said Redlands required focused attention to drive economic growth.
“Redlands had been neglected by the federal government for over a decade and its current proposed cuts to Queensland’s GST revenue were unacceptable,” she said.
“In driving a strong economic agenda, the focused attention of all levels of government is required.
“The member for Bowman, Andrew Laming, and his government needed to secure Queensland’s fair share of GST, and commit to ensuring funding for our region to capitalise on the enormous tourism potential Redlands and its coastal environment has on the world stage.”
Mr Laming declined to respond to Ms Richards.
Mr McEachan said last year that Redlands was viewed as a dormitory suburb of Brisbane.
Redlands received about $33.5 million in the last budget compared with Cairns, a city of a similar size, which would receive $890 million over the next four years.
The issue became an LNP election promise at the last state poll.