Coalminers back Qld infrastructure fund

Two coalmining firms will back a regional infrastructure fund the Queensland government will establish instead of raising royalties.

Treasurer Jackie Trad told mining businesses ahead of the June state budget she would not raise coal royalties for three years if they voluntarily tipped money into the $70 million fund.

She told a budget estimates hearing on Tuesday both BHP and Peabody had made an in-principle commitment to support the fund, and were engaged with the government to work out the next step.

Ms Trad, Speaker Curtis Pitt, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and their departmental staff fronted the hearings on Tuesday.

The premier was questioned over $267,500 in government funding paid to a company part-owned by her chief of staff, David Barbagallo, to develop an app to track personal journeys on cruise ships.

Ms Trad meanwhile was asked about her disclosure of a Woolloongabba home she had bought in close proximity to a government rail line project.

Mines Minister Anthony Lynham, State Development Minister Cameron Dick and Mark Furner, Minister for Agricultural Industry Development, will be grilled by MPs about spending in their portfolios on Wednesday.

The government has revealed CleanCo, a publicly-owned electricity generator, will begin trading on the national energy market from October 31.