Looking ahead 2015–16

The Queensland Government released an Interim Government Response to The Queensland Plan outlining priority activities for the Queensland Government for 2015–16.

The Queensland Government is:

Creating jobs now and for the future:

• implementing the Working Queensland jobs plan including:
  • continuing the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program
  • providing additional funding to TAFE over four years
  • establishing Jobs Queensland as an independent statutory authority
• implementing the Advance Queensland initiative.

Supporting quality education and learning:

• implementing the Letting Teachers Teach initiative
• delivering Advancing education: An action plan for education in Queensland today.

Improving health outcomes:

• implementing the Refresh Nursing and Nursing Guarantee policies
• expanding the Rural Generalist Pathway to provide a training program for doctors interested in practising in rural or remote areas
• releasing the Queensland Mental Health Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention Action Plan 2015–17
• funding genomics research.

Building infrastructure for growth:

• delivering a State Infrastructure Plan
• making infrastructure decisions following independent advice from Building Queensland
• providing new funding over four years for a statewide schools and hospitals fund
• providing funding under the Building our Regions Regional Infrastructure Fund (Building our Regions) for local governments.

Growing business:

• implementing the Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow fund to help stay-at-home parents grow their home-based business
• holding regular forums with the Premier’s Business Advisory Council
• implementing the Advance Queensland Business Development Fund
• reducing red tape for small business through the Red Tape Reduction Advisory Council
• continuing to consult through the Queensland Small Business Advisory Council
• developing a new Advancing Tourism Plan
• 2015 DestinationQ Forum 8 and 9 October in Townsville.

Strengthening communities:

• implementing the recommendations from the report, Not Now, Not Ever: Putting an End to Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland
• participating in the National Disability Insurance Scheme
• developing a five-year Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Strategy
• funding three organisations over three years to deliver new services under the Community Action for a Multicultural Society program to strengthen multicultural communities
• introducing the Multicultural Recognition Bill 2015 that will lead to greater support for Queensland’s multicultural and multi-faith communities
• establishing an independent tenancy advisory service
• engaging with the community to develop strategies for older Queenslanders and to inform the government’s new strategic direction for young people
• establishing an advisory taskforce on the residential transition for ageing Queenslanders.