Brisbane City Council and the State Government announced a new partnership commitment today.

The collaboration will see the transfer of more power to Council for local planning and management, including the South Bank Parklands.

Casey Fung reports.

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Premier Campbell Newman and Lord Mayor Graham Quirk joined forces in a show of strength and collaboration today.

Graham Quirk, Brisbane Lord Mayor: “The time has come now for that to be handed back to the local authority as the planning authority in our city.”

But it also means a more equitable splitting of costs. For example they’ll now go 50-50 in the $260 million upgrade of open rail crossings.

The partnership will also see Council given $10 million to run the Southbank Parklands instead of the existing management corporation.

Campbell Newman, Queensland Premier: “The council will not only be given the authority over these issues but will also be resourced.”

In federal politics the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler was in Brisbane endorsing the government’s new aged care policies.

The Minister put his best foot forward promoting the budget’s $3.7 billion Living Longer Living Better reforms.

Mark Butler, Minister for Mental Health and Aged Care: “We’re committed to make sure older Australians have as much chance as possible for staying in their homes for as long as possible and hopefully for the rest of their lives.”

The new reforms will provide incentives to encourage the ageing population to stay in their homes, it will also subsidise accommodation providers rather than individuals, something consumer groups say will stifle competition.

Mr Butler assured the one-million people already in aged care they will not pay anymore for the services they rely on.

Casey Fung, QUT News.