Transport service contracts are negotiated on an efficient price basis to purchase rail, bus and ferry services on behalf of government from operators and infrastructure managers in Queensland. The benefits of transport service contracts are that they:

• provide a flexible, accountable and transparent mechanism for the government to satisfy its transport and related policy objectives
• enable the government to identify the minimum level and standard of services it requires to be provided
• enable the government to determine whether the level of funding for these services is providing the best value for money from an overall transport policy perspective.

Transport service contracts exist for rail services (Queensland Rail’s Citytrain, Traveltrain and rail infrastructure services), regional freight and livestock services (Aurizon’s rail and road freight, and rail cattle train services). Service contracts also exist between the Department of Transport and Main Roads and bus and ferry operators across the state.

Queensland’s criminal justice system is under increasing pressure, evidenced by congested police watchhouses, a growing backlog in court cases and overcrowded prisons.

Between 2012 and 2017, the number of unsentenced prisoners in Queensland increased by more than double. Within this same period, the number of sentenced prisoners increased by 32 per cent.

Identifying the pressure points across Queensland’s justice system, and the specific drivers, is necessary to manage future demand on the system.

Managing demand across the justice system requires an integrated and coordinated approach by criminal justice entities.

Illicit drugs, such as methamphetamines, heroin and cocaine are having a significant detrimental impact on individuals, families, communities and government services in Queensland.

Between 2009–10 and 2015–16, the annual rate of methamphetamine-related hospital admissions reportedly rose by 3.9 to 79.9 per 100,000 people. From 2014–15 to 2015–16 arrests related to amphetamine offences increased by 31 per cent.  

The National Drug Strategy 2017–2026 identifies national priorities to help prevent and reduce drug-related problems. The Queensland Government’s Queensland Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Strategic Plan 2014‑2019 aims to deliver an integrated and recovery-orientated system to minimise harm from drug use. In February 2018, the Queensland Government also issued an ‘Action on ice’ plan to specifically address use and harms caused by crystal methamphetamine.

Invasive species, which include animals, plants and diseases, have significant economic, environmental and social impacts. They place considerable pressure on native wildlife and, in some instances, have contributed to the decline or extinction of native species.

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries estimates that each year feral pigs reduce grain production by $12 million and wild dogs cost $33 million in livestock loses, disease spread and control. It also estimates that weeds cost the state $600 million each year and have significant impact on primary industries, natural ecosystems, and human and animal health.

The Biosecurity Act 2014 protects Queensland’s economy and biodiversity from the threat posed by invasive species. Under the Act invasive species are subject to a range of control actions to prevent their spread and to eradicate them.

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Biosecurity Queensland, is responsible for the management of invasive species. Since 2015, the Queensland Government has allocated $19.7 million to the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative to control invasive species in Queensland. The state funding has been used for a range of projects including cluster fencing, baiting and trapping programs, weed management and eradication programs.

Queensland’s seven transport entities play a critical role in delivering a single integrated transport network that connects Queensland’s people, and facilitates a growing economy.

Direction and oversight of the state’s transport sector is provided by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR). The department’s primary role is to plan, manage and deliver Queensland’s integrated transport environment to achieve sustainable transport solutions for road, rail, air and sea. DTMR also provides oversight of Queensland Rail Group and Port entities. Queensland Rail Group is Queensland’s railway manager and operator, servicing the passenger, tourism, resources and freight customer markets. The port entities are part of Queensland’s network of 19 ports, which ranges from small community ports to large coal export terminals and a capital city multi-cargo port.

Queensland's local governments are involved in a wide range of activities—from delivering key community services, such as roads, water, sewerage and waste treatment, to providing banking, retail, medical, cultural and recreational services.

Most local governments, and the entities that they control, produce annual financial statements. How useful these statements are depends on their quality and the time taken to produce them. Timely and accurate financial reporting is essential for effective decision-making, managing of public funds and assets, and the delivery of public accountability.

Most public sector entities, including departments, statutory bodies, and government owned corporations and the entities they control, prepare annual financial statements and table these in parliament. Each year the Treasurer also prepares consolidated state government financial statements. The consolidated state government financial statements separately disclose transactions and balances for the general government sector and the total state sector.

In Queensland, most electricity is generated, transmitted, and distributed by state government-owned corporations and controlled entities. These include CS Energy, Stanwell, Powerlink, Energy Queensland, Ergon Energy, and 30 subsidiaries.

CS Energy and Stanwell are electricity generators. They produce electricity and sell into the National Electricity Market. Powerlink transmits electricity from generators to Energy Queensland, the distributor. Energy Queensland then distributes electricity from the transmission network to consumers. From there, electricity retailers purchase and sell electricity to households and businesses.

Entities within the Queensland public education sector intend to deliver world class education and training services. Collectively, the sector aims to help individuals make positive transitions from early childhood through to all stages of schooling, providing them with the knowledge and skills to prepare them for future education, training, or the workforce. This sector provides a variety of services and uses substantial resources to deliver these services.

In Queensland, water is primarily used by households, agriculture, mining, electricity generation, tourism, and manufacturing industries. Queensland’s state and local government owned water entities provide water throughout the state, and comprise bulk water suppliers, distributor-retailers, local governments, and smaller water boards.

Seqwater sells treated bulk water to local council regions within South East Queensland. This water is sold either directly to councils or through Distributor-Retailer Authorities (Unitywater and Queensland Urban Utilities).

Outside of South East Queensland, SunWater operates much of the bulk water infrastructure that supplies irrigators and industrial customers. For retail customers, water is sourced, treated and distributed by local government owned infrastructure (water boards).

Most public sector entities, including departments, statutory bodies, and government owned corporations and the entities they control, prepare annual financial statements and table these in parliament. Each year the Treasurer also prepares consolidated state government financial statements. The consolidated state government financial statements separately disclose transactions and balances for the general government sector and the total state sector.

Queensland health entities manage a large asset base and are funding innovative clinical care programs. This puts pressure on their financial sustainability. The Queensland public health sector includes the Department of Health and Queensland Ambulance Service, 16 hospital and health services, 13 hospital foundations, and three health statutory bodies and their controlled entities.