Queensland tops Australian business confidence chart for the fifth month in a row coming into Christmas

For the fifth month in a row, the National Australia Bank’s monthly business survey has recorded Queensland business confidence as the highest of any mainland State.

Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt said this was great news coming into the busy Christmas period, with retailers ready for the annual rush in sales.

“This is another encouraging sign of the positive response from the Queensland business community to the Palaszczuk Government’s pro-jobs, pro-growth economic agenda,” Mr Pitt said.

“Queensland’s trend business confidence is at +10 points on the NAB’s index, six more than both NSW and Victoria,” he said.

“Since the State Budget in July, Queensland has consistently had the highest business confidence of any mainland State.

“The Australian Bureau of Statistics shows Queensland has created 43,800 jobs since the Palaszczuk Government’s election – that’s nine months of jobs growth.

“It shows the positive impact of the Palaszczuk Government’s first State Budget with the business community reacting enthusiastically to the State Government’s new economic initiatives.

“We know that supporting economic development and investment in regional Queensland is the key to ensuring ongoing growth in the domestic economy

“That’s why we’ve delivered record budgets in Health and Education including a $10 billion capital works program for 2015-16 supporting 27,500 jobs.

“We’ve kept our election promise of not introducing any new fees, taxes or charges.

“We’ve also delivered our payroll tax rebate scheme for apprentices and trainees, which has seen almost 1800 Queensland businesses claim more than $2.4 million in rebates in the first three months alone.

“I look forward to making further announcements about Queensland’s positive economic agenda in the Mid-Year Fiscal and Economic Review next week.”

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