The 2026 to 2027 Queensland Budget includes welcome investment in areas that matter to older Queenslanders, including health care, cost of living relief, housing, transport, patient travel and support to remain safe and independent at home.
The Budget’s health investment is significant and welcome. With Queensland Health total expenses estimated at more than $31 billion and major commitments to hospital capacity, patient travel support and additional beds, this is a substantial investment in services older Queenslanders rely on. Good access to health care is essential for older people to live well. It supports people to manage health conditions, see a doctor or specialist when needed, receive timely surgery or treatment, recover well, and return home safely with the right support around them.
Cost of living relief is also very important. Electricity rebates, pensioner rates and water subsidies, medical energy concessions and other concessions can help people living on pensions or modest retirement incomes. Permanent 50 cent public transport fares are especially welcome. Affordable transport helps older people get to medical appointments, shops, services, volunteering, family, friends and community activities. It also helps people stay connected, which is vital when loneliness and social isolation are affecting many older Queenslanders.
Housing remains one of the biggest pressures. More social and community housing is welcome. For older Queenslanders, homes need to remain affordable, safe, accessible, well maintained and close to transport, health care, shops and community supports. Older rental tenants also need greater security, especially those living on fixed or modest incomes who may not be able to manage sudden rent increases, moving costs or unsuitable housing. Queensland can look to calls being made in other states for practical action, including targeted older persons housing packages, faster repairs and maintenance in social housing, stronger tenancy support, specialist older persons housing services, and clear targets for homes that are accessible, affordable and suitable for ageing in place.
The Budget should also be judged by how well it protects older people from abuse and mistreatment. The Queensland Government has done important work through the Parliamentary Inquiry, listening to evidence and identifying where action is needed. That work now needs to move into implementation. Protecting vulnerable older adults must be a priority area of action for this Government.
Queensland needs a strong system to prevent and respond to abuse and mistreatment of older adults. This means making sure people know where to go for help, can get trusted advice early, and can access specialist support when situations are complex or unsafe. Support can look like readily available community education, clear referral pathways, and knowing where to find services that respond to financial abuse, coercive control, neglect, emotional and physical harm, and misuse of trust. All forms of support must be visible and available across Queensland including in regional and rural communities.
COTA Queensland looks forward to working constructively with the Queensland Government to build on the positive investments in this Budget and ensure they deliver practical benefits for older Queenslanders.
This Budget makes important investments in the systems older people rely on. Into the new financial year, we want to see those investments reach people in their daily lives, and that Queensland builds a stronger, better resourced system to prevent and respond to abuse and mistreatment of older adults.
2026/27 QLD Budget measures of interest to older Queenslanders
The Queensland Budget includes a range of measures relevant to older Queenslanders, carers, families and communities. Key measures include:
Health, hospitals and care
- Queensland Health total expenses are estimated at $31.486 billion in 2026 to 2027.
- The Budget identifies health priorities including reducing ambulance ramping, improving services, recruiting more health workers and stabilising elective surgery waitlists.
- Commitment to delivering more than 2,600 additional hospital beds through the Hospital Rescue Plan, including three new hospitals and ten major expansions and upgrades.
- Providing $11.7 million in 2026 to 2027 to strengthen the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme, including increasing the private vehicle fuel subsidy from 34 cents to 45 cents per kilometre and improving processing times.
- $11.6 million in 2026 to 2027 for 34 interim care beds in Wide Bay to support patient flow and reduce delayed discharge.
- The Oral Health Scheme provides free dental care to eligible clients and their dependants who hold a relevant concession or seniors card.
- The Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme funds aids and equipment to help eligible Queenslanders live at home and avoid premature or inappropriate residential care or hospitalisation.
Cost of living and transport
- The Budget forecasts about $9.285 billion in concessions for Queenslanders in 2026 to 2027.
- The Electricity Rebate Scheme is indexed to provide a $399 rebate for eligible households, including Pensioner Concession Card holders, Queensland Seniors Card holders, Health Care Card holders and eligible veterans.
- The Pensioner Rate Subsidy Scheme provides a 20 per cent subsidy up to $200 per year for eligible pensioners.
- The South East Queensland Pensioner Water Subsidy Scheme provides up to $120 per year for eligible pensioner property owners.
- The Budget confirms permanent 50 cent public transport fares.
Housing and support at home
- $5.725 billion social and community housing capital program over four years from 2026 to 2027.
- Support to continue delivery of 53,500 social and community homes by 2044.
- The Budget provides $450.1 million over four years and $27.4 million per year ongoing to 2036 to 2037 for frontline housing and homelessness services, including Specialist Homelessness Services and peak and industry bodies.
- The Budget provides $83.4 million over three years to support private rental market tenancy assistance programs.
- Home Assist Secure supports homeowners and people in rental housing who are 60 years or older, or who live with disability, and who need assistance to remain living in their home. The Budget estimates that more than 28,000 households will be assisted in 2026 to 2027.
Older people, carers and community voice
- The Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety says it will continue to ensure government policies, programs and services are age friendly and support people to participate as vital members of the community.
- The Department says it will support Queensland seniors to live active, healthy lives where they are connected to their community, cared for and recognised for their contribution.
- The Department says it will deliver cost of living relief through the Seniors Card scheme to eligible seniors.
- The Seniors and Disability Services area includes funding for peak bodies for seniors and carers to advocate for the rights and wellbeing of older Queenslanders and unpaid carers.
- The Budget sets a 2026 to 2027 target that 88% of eligible seniors will hold a Seniors Card, Seniors Card plus go, or Seniors Business Discount Card.
Abuse and mistreatment of older adults
- The Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety says it will work with relevant ministers to implement the Government response to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Elder Abuse.
- The Department also says it will support Queensland’s contribution to the National Plan to End the Abuse and Mistreatment of Older Australians 2026 to 2032.
- The Department identifies investment in services that target elder abuse prevention and intervention.
Media Contact
Darren Young
Chief Executive Officer
Council on the Ageing Queensland
1300 738 348
info@cotaqld.org.au