The Queensland budget has been hailed as good news for the state's public servants. 

The state Budget outlined this week promises increased hirings and higher pay without any mention of productivity trade-offs or efficiency dividends. 

This move continues the trend of the government's expanding workforce, in contrast to the previous administration's reduction of approximately 20,000 public sector positions.

According to the Budget papers, the government is committed to revitalising frontline service delivery, leading to a growth of nearly 45,000 public sector positions, a 20 per cent increase since the Labor party took office in 2015. 

This year's budget adds another 4,666 full-time equivalent positions, primarily in the Department of Youth Justice, Employment, Small Business and Training, Queensland Health, and Queensland Police Service.

The government also plans to renegotiate public sector enterprise agreements, with most agreements expiring this year. 

The new offer includes three-year agreements with wage increases of 4 per cent in the first two years and 3 per cent in the third year. 

Additionally, a cost-of-living adjustment payment will be provided to employees if inflation surpasses the established wage increases.

Treasurer Cameron Dick announced several cost-of-living-busting initiatives, such as power bill subsidies and free kindergarten, benefiting Queensland public servants. The budget allocates a record $8.2 billion in concessions, a 21 per cent increase from the previous year.

However, the budget's ambitious capital works program and service delivery targets in areas like public housing and health pose challenges to the Queensland public sector. 

The government plans to invest a record $89 billion in capital works over the next four years, an increase of 20 per cent compared to the previous four-year total. 

This includes projects like hydro schemes in central and northern Queensland and the Copperstring 2 transmission line. 

Additionally, preparations for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games require substantial capital works.

With the upcoming state election, the pressure on Queensland public servants to ensure the successful implementation of these projects will be immense, along with the need to control cost blowouts. 

The government's ability to fund the capital program and cost-of-living initiatives is dependent on a temporary surge in coal royalties, which may not be sustainable as coal prices return to normal levels.

While the budget surplus of $12.3 billion, a $13 billion turnaround from earlier forecasts, has been attributed to high coal royalties and prices fueled by the Ukraine War, coal miners claim to have paid over $5.7 billion in royalties this year alone. 

However, this windfall is expected to be short-lived, highlighting the need for the government and public sector workforce to manage their finances responsibly.