The Queensland Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) will receive an $8 million shot in the arm to clear the decks of "high profile cases", including that of Bundaberg doctor Jayant Patel and disgraced former minister Gordon Nuttall.

Premier Anna Bligh and Attorney-General Kerry Shine today announced an extra $17.5 million for the ODPP over the next four years, with a larger cash injection first up.

"The additional funds this year will go to some offices to allow them to clear outstanding cases," Ms Bligh said.

"It also provides an additional allocation for the DPP to draw on in relation to conducting a number of very complex, high profile cases that will be conducted over this financial year."

The case against former surgeon Jayant Patel, who today arrived back in Australia after extradition from the United States, was among the "complex" cases that posed a special challenge to state prosecutors, she said.

Former Beattie government minister Gordon Nuttall, who is facing multiple corruption charges, and the prosecution of American citizen Gabe Watson, who allegedly murdered his wife on a dive expedition in North Queensland, are also on the books this financial year.

The extra $8 million takes the office's budget to nearly $40 million this financial year, 23 per cent higher than last year.

Mr Shine said the increased funding would boost the state's prosecution powers five-fold.

Seven new public prosecutors will take the total number to 11, and they will be supported by 10 new legal officers, five new paralegals and five law clerks, he said.

"This represents a major increase in the number of prosecutors in Queensland and associated staff and I think that it's very much in line with what is needed to make the DPP a very effective prosecution service," Mr Shine said.