New challenges and opportunities

At the time the Plan was developed, it was with an understanding of the impacts of global economic, environmental, social and cultural trends likely to affect the state over the next 30 years. The Plan identified the following global trends:

• Community profile
• Changes in demographics, including a growing and ageing population with an associated increasing demand for public services such as health, education and infrastructure
• A new world economy
• Movement of the centre of the global economy from west to east, and north to south, with developing nations becoming major contributors of resources and innovation
• People becoming global citizens with increased mobility driving urbanisation and placing pressure on the environment, infrastructure, housing and employment
• Naturally Queensland
• Climate change, decreasing biodiversity, water and food scarcity and land degradation, as well as increasing demand driving a need for a global response for sustainable resource management
• Virtual reality
• Digital technology enabling exponential growth in the capture of data, increased connectivity, and advancements in artificial intelligence and automation; while also disrupting established industries and sectors.

In 2014–15, domestic and family violence, drought and its impact on families and local communities, youth unemployment particularly in regional Queensland, and risks to the Great Barrier Reef were identified as emerging issues. These issues gained increasing recognition in 2015–16.

In 2015–16, it was recognised that challenges and opportunities for Queenslanders are developing from:

• the downturn in the resources sector and associated displacement of jobs, particularly affecting young people and some regions
• the demand for technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and the internet of things providing new economic opportunities, while requiring management of labour and capital displacement
• the growth of emerging industries such as biofutures and renewable energy, which will create jobs and attract investment
• the use of data and real-time analytics to support business investment and government decisions
• new ways of connecting—technologies and information access are driving new business models and social movements built on loosely-structured networks.

The Queensland Government will continue to work with local communities, business, industry and other levels of government to address challenges and seize opportunities in fostering a strong economic framework and an inclusive society.