State Cabinet to meet on Sunshine Coast next week

State Cabinet will meet on Sunshine Coast next week as part of the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to govern for all Queenslanders.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Cabinet meeting, followed earlier meetings in Toowoomba, Maryborough, Cairns, Gold Coast, and Rockhampton this year, would focus on the Government’s work to restore frontline services and create jobs and opportunities in the Sunshine Coast region.

“The Sunshine Coast – like other regions across Queensland – suffered under the devastating cuts to the frontline between 2012 and 2015,” she said.

“In the area of Health alone, more than 100 nursing positions were cut from the Sunshine Coast region.

“I am proud to say that my Government has not only restored these positions, but we have added more. To date, we have employed an additional 180 doctors almost 600 nurses.”

“In terms of job creation, we have worked with industry, businesses and the Council to create new opportunities. By working together, the unemployment rate on the Sunshine Coast we have reduced the unemployment rate from 7.3% at the last election to 5%.”

“Our Skilling Queenslanders for Work has helped more than 700 people into work on the Sunshine Coast.”

“Our Back to Work program, which was extended to the region in the last Budget, has already helped 50 Sunshine Coast employers recruit 54 staff.”

“In total, our State Budget in June invested $1 billion in infrastructure in the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay region. This investment supports 2700 jobs.”

“We are delivering $351 million of road infrastructure in 2017-18 for the North Coast district. Our roads investment program is supporting 2,066 direct jobs just for the North Coast alone, over the next four years.”

“We’re investing $929 million towards upgrades to widen to Bruce Highway and $132 million towards the upgrade of the Bruce Highway from Caloundra to the Pine River, and $22 million to upgrade Kawana Way and Nicklin Way intersection for the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.”

Media contact: Kirby Anderson (Premier’s office) 0417 263 791