QLD: $10bn for health in budget, payroll bungle cost $4m

The state budget released on Tuesday included $9.9 billion for the Queensland health system, including more than 1000 new health professionals.

An extra 720 nurses, 180 doctors and 300 allied professionals will be employed across the state.

Regional cancer services will get a combined state and commonwealth government funding of $179.3 million over four years for the construction and upgrade of centres, while the state will spend $194.5 million over four years to operate the centres.

Health Minister Paul Lucas said the $9.9 billion investment is a 10.5 per cent increase on last year's health budget.

"We want to ensure that people with cancer and their families have access to high-quality care, as close as possible to where they live, particularly parents with young children who might have to travel long distances for cancer care," Lucas said.

Children with hearing problems are also set to benefit with $16.5 million over four years to increase the number of cochlear implants and access to follow-up therapy.

The 2010/11 budget sets a new record for health infrastructure with more than $1.63 billion committed to projects.

Treasurer Andrew Fraser said nearly 200 health infrastructure projects across the state will amount to nearly 40,000 construction jobs.