Focus on jobs as Cabinet Ministers listen to Fraser Coast ideas

Published Wednesday, 18 May, 2016 at 03:30 PM

Treasurer, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Minister for Sport
The Honourable Curtis Pitt

Treasurer Curtis Pitt today chaired a meeting of the Palaszczuk Government’s Working Queensland Cabinet Committee in Maryborough today to discuss local issues and opportunities for economic development and job creation. 

Mr Pitt also addressed a forum on the government’s Market-Led Proposals initiative that is fast-tracking business ideas to deliver benefits to Queenslanders and create jobs. 

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to job creation and since the 2015 state election we have created more than 61,000 new jobs,” Mr Pitt said. 

“We are focussed on working with business and industry to attract new investment to regions like the Fraser Coast and that will in turn generate new jobs. 

“But there is much more to do as our economy transitions from the phase of big upfront investments in the construction of mining and resources projects to the production phase. 

“We know some regions are transitioning better than others, so we need to continue working with business and industry and local communities to attract investment, invest in infrastructure and create jobs.” 

Other Ministers attending the Working Queensland Cabinet Committee are Minister for Communities, Shannon Fentiman, and Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations Minister for Racing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs Grace Grace. 

Along with Member for Maryborough, Bruce Saunders, they received presentations by the Fraser Coast Regional Council Hyne and Sons, and MSF Sugar. 

Mr Pitt said the government’s focus would continue to be job creation, especially in regional areas. 

“Over the year to March the jobless rate in the Fraser Coast region averaged 8.9 per cent,” he said. 

“That is lower than the peak figure reached in the past five years of 11.4 per cent but higher than the yearly average for the whole state of 6.2 per cent. 

“That’s why we are continuing to work hard as a government to encourage and attract new business and jobs to regional Queensland.” 

Mr Pitt said the Market-Led Proposals forum was a chance for regional business operators to be briefed on the program initiated in the 2015 State Budget that was helping develop ideas for new projects or services in the shortest possible time. 

“It’s a process that finds reasons to say ‘yes’ to proposals instead of excuses to say ‘no’,” Mr Pitt said. 

“Fraser Coast business operators have a chance today to find out details of how the MLP process works and I hope some will go away and start working up their ideas.” 

Previous events in Brisbane, on Gold Coast and Sunshine Coasts and in Cairns and Townsville have been attended by a total of more than 500 people. 

“A major feature of the MLP process is the ability for potential proponents to first discuss their ideas in confidence with Queensland Treasury’s MLP team,” he said. 

“This enables proponents to tailor their ideas and also saves time and money in developing submissions before being lodged.

“Proposals are then subject to an initial assessment and if successful, proceed to detailed assessment, and ultimately approval. 

“More than 40 submissions have been received from across the state since the last State Budget and 30 were selected as being suitable for initial assessment. 

“While many of those have come from South-East Queensland, we are very keen to see more proposals from regional parts of our state.”

Mr Pitt said four MLPs representing more than $665 million in investment generating more than 1300 jobs had moved to the detailed assessment stage: 

  • $450 million Logan Motorway Enhancement 
  • $100 million Queensland Aquarium and Maritime Museum 
  • $100 million Brisbane International Cruise Ship Terminal 
  • RACQ’s plan to develop a world-class Queensland Driver Excellence Centre including a $15 million upgrade of the Mt Cotton Driver Training Centre. 

“The MLP initiative shows the Palaszczuk Government is in the business of creating jobs and working with the private sector to facilitate good ideas and that means more investment, a growing economy and jobs now and for the future,” he said. 

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