2015–16 Activity Statement—Economy
Queenslanders want to have a strong performing and diverse economy with the best jobs on offer. We want to focus on industry development and diversification, with centres of excellence that drive innovation.
Success will come from building on our strengths and turning our ideas into commercial enterprises. Queenslanders recognise that our proximity to Asia provides key opportunities for growth. Our skilled workforce and reputation as a reliable and competitive supplier of resources demonstrate our state is a dynamic place to invest.
Creating jobs and a diverse economy is one of the Queensland Government’s objectives for the community. In 2015–16, the Queensland Government:
Creating jobs and a diverse economy
continued to implement the Jobs Now, Jobs for the Future Employment Strategy, including the Working Queensland Jobs Plan
launched the Advance Queensland initiative, with initial funding of $180 million, to turn Queensland ideas, technology and knowledge into products and services that build businesses, attract investment, enable global competitiveness and ultimately create jobs
established the Rural Jobs and Skills Alliance in conjunction with industry to ensure there is a collaborative approach to identifying where businesses have difficulties in recruiting appropriately-skilled workers and seasonal labour
developed the North Stradbroke Island Workers Assistance Scheme to support workers affected by the cessation of sandmining on North Stradbroke Island
supported workers affected by the closure of Queensland Nickel including the provision of case management support and coordination of support and advice across the three levels of government
successfully negotiated the attraction of Southern Oil Refining’s $16 million Advanced Biofuels Pilot Plant to be built in Gladstone
launched the Queensland Tourism and Transport Strategy Discussion Paper, Transport and Tourism: Creating a World Class Visitor Experience and started development of the Queensland Tourism and Transport Strategy
led investigations, including scoping studies, for economic development opportunities in the Southern Gulf region including enabling infrastructure to expand phosphate mining and live cattle export industries
through the Queensland Defence Industries Envoy, affirmed Queensland’s support for Singapore (under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Australian and Singapore governments) to invest $2.25 billion to expand operations in Australia—including at Townsville and at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area near Rockhampton—over the next 25 years
delivered the 2015 DestinationQ Forum to support the Queensland tourism industry to position itself in national and international markets
promoted the state’s land and maritime defence capabilities through Defence Industries Queensland (e.g. hosting 14 companies on a trade stand at the Pacific 2015 International Maritime Exposition)
supported the Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum, held by Brisbane City Council from 5–8 July 2015, which was attended by more than 1300 delegates from more than 135 international and Australian cities
submitted projects and packages to the Australian Government for funding consideration under the Northern Australia: Our North, Our Future: White Paper on Developing Northern Australia
- under the $600 million Northern Australia Roads Program, improvements to key freight routes, such as the Barkly, Flinders, Landsborough, Gregory, Peak Downs and Capricorn Highways and the Gregory and Kennedy Developmental Roads, and projects in the regions
- under the $100 million Northern Australia Beef Roads Program, a submission developed in collaboration with stakeholders and peak bodies to improve cattle supply chains
progressed the delivery of 75 new six-car passenger trains and completed the construction of a purpose-built maintenance Centre at Wulkuraka, west of Ipswich, for the New Generation Rollingstock project, generating up to 500 full-time jobs, including 150 ongoing full-time jobs at Wulkuraka for 30 years
launched a number of Advance Queensland programs to foster entrepreneurship, including the Ignite Ideas Fund to support commercialisation of new ideas, Young Starters’ Fund to build entrepreneurial and technology startup skills in young Queenslanders, and HotDesQ to attract international and interstate entrepreneurial talent to Queensland
built global innovation collaborations through Advance Queensland Global Partnership Awards, and international partnerships, including Siemens Healthcare, Emory University, Johnson & Johnson, the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology and YouTube
held the Advance Queensland Innovation and Investment Summit in April 2016, attracting more than 1700 attendees from 17 countries and more than 150 quality Innovation Showcase exhibitors
established the Advance Queensland Expert Panel to provide recommendations to government on future directions, opportunities and challenges in regard to science, innovation, economic development and the growth of the knowledge economy and jobs
continued the whole-of-government open data agenda to stimulate innovation, research and startups, and improve government service delivery
approved the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane Priority Development Area Development Scheme to facilitate the delivery of the $3 billion Queen’s Wharf Brisbane Integrated Resort Development, and worked with the Destination Brisbane Consortium to progress this transformative urban tourism precinct with connectivity and commercial benefits
through the Coordinator-General, approved Environmental Impact Statements for the $347 million Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion project and the Santos Gas Field Development project, with potential to create around 3900 jobs
incentivised private sector support by matching eligible cash sponsorship and philanthropy dollar for dollar through the Arts Leverage Fund, with $2.2 million invested in 22 arts companies that together leveraged in excess of $8.7 million in funding
partnered with industry to secure employment and training opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander jobseekers and facilitated a total of 1021 jobs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders, exceeding the target of 400 jobs
negotiated employment and business supply outcomes for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people in building and civil construction and other employment projects outside of discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and leveraged government spending to bring about employment opportunities and growth and development opportunities for Indigenous businesses
worked with Traditional Owners and other stakeholders to identify and transfer land for employment and business opportunities and nature conservation
provided a 25% payroll tax rebate for apprentices and trainees with the rebate being doubled to 50% for the 2016–17 financial year for those employers in the state providing employment opportunities for apprentices or trainees
supported the reviews by the Queensland Productivity Commission into electricity pricing and a fair price for solar, and is preparing a response
launched the State Library of Queensland’s Business Studio, a new Enterprise Centre to support business, social enterprise and creative industries
launched programs under Advance Queensland to increase the state’s talented research base and link research to industry, including the Advance Queensland Research Fellowships, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Fellowships, PhD Scholarships, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PhD Scholarships, Innovation Partnerships, Women’s Academic Fund and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
established the $40 million Business Development Fund to invest in innovative, high growth businesses based in Queensland, with funding matched from private sector co-investors. The first investments were $2.5 million for Brisbane-based firm Tritium, which produces super-speed Veefil charging stations for electric cars, and $500 000 for JESI Management Solutions’ journey management software project, which uses mobile phone technology to help companies safeguard their employees on the road by monitoring their journeys in real time
released the Draft International Education and Training Strategy to Advance Queensland 2016–26 for public consultation
signed international agreements to advance Queensland’s capabilities internationally, between the Queensland Government and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (Japan), SoftBank Robotics (Japan), the Korea Development Bank and Human Resource Development Service of Korea respectively
ensured Queensland businesses could develop skills in capability statements and tendering to win supply contracts to major projects
delivered industry-wide capability development workshops for businesses currently engaged in or considering engaging with resources, construction and government procurement
secured eight new or expanded airline services, through the Attracting Aviation Investment Fund, with:
- Hong Kong Airlines: Hong Kong-Gold Coast-Cairns charter service
- Hong Kong Airlines: Hong Kong-Gold Coast-Cairns scheduled service
- Qantas: Christchurch to Brisbane
- China Eastern: Shanghai to Brisbane
- Singapore Airlines: Singapore to Brisbane
- EVA Air: Taipei to Brisbane
- AirAsia X: Kuala Lumpur to Gold Coast
- Jin Air: Seoul to Cairns
successfully secured the best matches of the Rugby League World Cup 2017 with games to be split between Cairns, Townsville and Brisbane
secured the IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championships for Cairns for three years (2016–18) as an extension to the Cairns Airport Adventure Festival
developed and launched the Advancing Small Business Queensland Strategy 2016–20 to create an environment for small business to start, grow and employ
Delivering quality frontline services
- created a new electricity business, Energy Queensland, merged from Energex and Ergon Energy, which will proactively respond to the needs of a changing energy market, put customers first, and reduce costs to Queenslanders
- fostered new agricultural industries in northern Australia through piloting a one-stop service in Mareeba to assist private sector initiatives with land and water development and approval processes
- implemented the wind farm code and guideline to facilitate investment in renewable energy projects
- delivered the Mentoring for Growth program, bringing small business operators into contact with experienced business mentors
- delivered the 2016 Queensland Small Business Week, with more than 5000 participants attending 104 registered activities and events across the state
- continued improving online service delivery for business, with the Business Queensland website catering for 4.4 million users, providing 1382 services and facilitating 85,000 online transactions through the SmartForms platform
- provided an additional 2733 Queensland business services on the national licence database, the Australian Business Licence and Information Service
- collaborated with industry to deliver the ConstructionQ 2015 Forum for 120 participants from the building construction industry to review the industry’s 20-year blueprint, workshop current initiatives, and identify key areas requiring further consideration
- realised 23,081 hours worked by 83 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees, apprentices and trainees (an equivalent value of $1.04 million) on 34 completed projects, and $75,955 of goods and services supplied by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses
- instituted an ethanol mandate which requires the fuel industry to meet targets for the sale of biobased petrol and diesel
- invested in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture through the $12.6 million four-year (2015–16 – 2018–19) Backing Indigenous Arts initiative to build sustainable and ethical Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts industries
- committed an additional $1.2 million to Queensland Ballet to increase its base funding enabling employment of additional dancers, increased number of performances and tours
- implemented the Arts Business Innovation Fund to strengthen the financial capacity of small to medium arts businesses through a grant and zero interest loan facility
- administered $30 million over four years to Screen Australia to attract large-scale film and high-end television productions
- commenced a business case to consider a new performing arts venue for Brisbane to maximise cultural tourism opportunities
Building safe, caring and connected communities
- led recovery efforts in response to a number of severe weather events ensuring state-owned assets and infrastructure were back up and running as soon as possible
Read more about the Plan’s goals, targets and measures for economy.
