Roadmap for economic growth released

The Queensland Government has today released a clear strategy and action plan to achieve sustained high levels of economic growth over the next decade.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said the Governing for Growth Economic Strategy and Action Plan identified at least 100 new priority reforms, actions and programs that will help revitalise the Queensland economy.

“From day one, the Newman Government recognised that the only long-term solution to the financial calamity left to us by Labor was to grow the state economy and get on with building the business of Queensland,” Mr Seeney said.

“Reining in unsustainable levels of government spending was our first priority, followed closley by a clear strategy to boost economic growth across the four pillars of the Queensland economy – construction, tourism, agriculture and resources.

“Our disciplined, methodical approach has ensured we are well on track to making Queensland the number one performing economy in the nation.

“We have recorded the fastest economic growth in the country and three-quarters of all the jobs created in Australia in the year to December were created in Queensland.

“The Governing for Growth strategy released today builds on the Governing for Growth economic framework released in July 2013 and complements the Newman Government’s fiscal strategy.

“This Action Plan will ensure our economy is strong enough to not only meet the obligations that stem from Labor’s debt, but to be able to finance the infrastructure and services that Queenslanders will need into the future.”

The Strategy and Action Plan has the following clear objectives:

• To provide the best business environment in the nation to start or grow a business
• To ensure Queensland has the infrastructure that best connects people to jobs, businesses to markets and visitors to our exceptional destinations
• To ensure the State Government plays its full role in delivering strong, prosperous and resilient regional economies.

Mr Seeney said Governing for Growth was a whole-of-government strategy that ensured all government departments and entities are focused on growing the state’s economy and delivering the aspirations and targets to be set out in The Queensland Plan.

“The State Government has a critical role to play in establishing the right economic policy settings and programs to lay the foundations and steer the economy on a path to higher growth,” he said.

“We recognise that the private sector is the engine room of economic growth, and the Queensland Government is determined to shape our state economy with reforms in areas such as planning and development, property, regulatory environments, science and innovation, infrastructure and education.”

Key initiatives in the Governing for Growth Economic Strategy and Action Plan include:

• Development of a State Infrastructure Plan
• Delivery of key strategic infrastructure projects, including the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing and the Underground Bus and Train project
• Unlocking new growth opportunities including Flinders Gilbert Agriculture Zone, Galilee Basin Development Strategy and Western Cape Resources Cluster
• Facilitate major resorts and other development projects
• Capitalise on key regional assets, including priority port development areas and state development areas.

The Governing for Growth EconomicStrategy and Action Plan is available at http://www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/governingforgrowth

[ENDS] 11 February 2014

Media Contact: Jane Paterson 0417 281 754 or Elizabeth Spry 0418 928 744