Gold Coast residents urged to be counted in the 2016 Census

Treasurer Curtis Pitt says Gold Coast residents should make sure they are counted in the 2016 Census to be conducted nationwide by the Australian Bureau of Statistics next Tuesday 9 August. 

Speaking at a business breakfast organised by the Southport Chamber of Commerce, Mr Pitt said even a 1 per cent undercount of the Gold Coast population in the Census could cost Queensland almost $30 million because many federally funded programs were distributed on a per capita basis. 

“The cost of not being counted far outweighs any inconvenience residents might perceive in filling out the Census,” Mr Pitt said. 

“It’s estimated that every Queenslander not counted in the Census could cost around $5,300 in lost revenue, so even if just 1% of the Gold Coast’s population of around 560,000 are not counted, we could miss out on around $29.6 million in federal funds. 

“That’s why the State Government is mounting a public information campaign featuring Sesame Street’s popular Count von Count to make sure they know that Queensland is counting on them to be counted in the Census. 

“An accurate Census count helps every level of government as well as business and industry plan and deliver services and facilities where they are needed most. 

“The ABS has been distributing a letter to all households with unique login instructions for the Census website and instructions on how to lodge their information online. Anyone needing a paper Census form can get one by following the instructions on the letter delivered by the ABS,” Mr Pitt said. 

Mr Pitt told Chamber members that the Palaszczuk Government’s economic plan had delivered renewed business confidence; jobs; and economic growth that weakened under the former LNP Government when Tim Nicholls was Treasurer. 

He said the June edition of the Deloitte Access Economics Business Outlook forecast Queensland to have the strongest economic growth in the country in 2016-17 and growth to be higher than the national economy through to 2025-26. 

“In line with other private sector forecasts, the National Australia Bank State Update for July 2016 reported Queensland’s real gross state product is expected to grow solidly,” Mr Pitt said. 

“And the recent Deloitte Access Economics’ Investment Monitor for the June quarter 2016 said the value of potential major projects in Queensland outstrips those in NSW and Victoria. 

“These reports all acknowledge that Queensland’s economic fundamentals are strong and they all acknowledge that while global conditions, especially soft resources prices and demand have affected revenues and results in key sectors, the long-term term outlook for investment and growth is good.” 

Mr Pitt said the Palaszczuk Government had initiated a range of programs to attract new business to the state; help expand existing businesses; and create jobs. They included: 

• a $40 million Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund
• a $40 million Business Development Fund to invest in start-up ventures taking bright business ideas to market
• Market-Led Proposals to fast track approval of private sector ideas for innovative services or infrastructure

“The Gold Coast, as one of the nation’s leading tourist destinations, will benefit from the $49.9 million allocated in this year’s State Budget to extend the Tourism Guarantee and deliver certainty of funding for Tourism and Events Queensland,” he said.

“We’re also putting $33.5 million into our new Connecting with Asia strategy to focus on intensive destination marketing in select Asian cities and attract more of the rising number of people in Asia travelling the world.”

Mr Pitt said the Gold Coast was benefiting from the Palaszczuk Government’s investment in job-creating infrastructure.

“In particular there are major projects being developed on the Gold Coast in the lead-up to the 2018 Commonwealth Games,” he said.

“We are building or upgrading 17 world-class facilities for the Games and in the recent Budget alone.

“This all forms part of the $1 billion worth of infrastructure planned on the Gold Coast to support more than 3,000 jobs over four years.

“In the Southport are alone projects include $94.5 million in 2016-17 out of a total spend of $420 million to implement Stage 2 of the Gold Coast Light Rail Project.

“This will extend the network from the Gold Coast University Hospital to the Helensvale Rail Station.

“This initiative, in partnership with the Australian and local governments, will support 1,000 jobs.”

Mr Pitt said the Palaszczuk Government was also providing $47.4 million towards the upgrade of the Coomera Interchange at Exit 54 on the Pacific Motorway to ensure development of a new Coomera Town Centre commercial and retail precinct.

“The state contribution is in addition to $10 million from the federal government and $17.3 million from the Town Centre developers,” he said.

 “We have also provided $42 million to upgrade the M1/Gateway Motorway southbound lanes merge.

“The Palaszczuk Government has also earmarked $44 million to upgrade the M1 between Mudgeeraba and Varsity Lakes which is the usual 20 per cent state funding share for the $220 million project.

“The federal government is committing only half of the total project cost, but needs to meet its obligations to share costs in the usual 80:20 split with the state,” he said.

 Media contact: 0447 316 432 / 0419 945 546

For further details on the 2016 Census you can visit the Queensland Treasury’s Census 2016 website — www.treasury.qld.gov.au/census

Or you can visit the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ website and follow the Census 2016 links — www.abs.gov.au