QPC draft report on manufacturing in Queensland

Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment, Curtis Pitt, has welcomed the Queensland Productivity Commission’s draft report into the manufacturing sector as an opportunity to assess options for boosting output, exports, and jobs in our manufacturing sector.

“The Palaszczuk Labor Government is firmly committed to examining ways to further support and improve the productivity and competitiveness of Queensland’s manufacturing industry, and create new jobs,” Mr Pitt said.

“Both as Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment I recognise the potential for manufacturing to expand which in turn will further diversify and strengthen our state economy, boost exports even more, and generate jobs.

“I want to reassure workers in traditional manufacturing industries that the Queensland Government understands their concerns about the future and the future of the sector.

“That is why we made an election commitment for the QPC to undertake this important investigation. 

“We established the independent Queensland Productivity Commission to review complex economic and regulatory issues and propose reforms which encourage more positive employment and economic outcomes.”

Mr Pitt the QPC would present its final report to the government by the end of October and would be accepting submissions on the draft version up until 6 September.

“The government will not immediately adopting any draft recommendations, or commenting in detail on them, until we receive the QPC's final report,” he said.

“After we give full consideration to the final report and its recommendations, the government will then have six months to deliver its formal response.”

Mr Pitt said the state’s 16,400 manufacturing businesses employed almost 170,000 people; made up 6.7 per cent of the Queensland economy; and contributed about $19.7 billion to our state economy each year

“Exports account for about one-quarter of that $19.7 billion, so our recently released Trade and Investment Strategy will play a significant role in helping expand the sector,” he said.

“While manufacturing is a key contributor to our state's economic success story, we want manufacturing's share of the State economy to increase and for the sector to grow and become more resilient. 

“The QPC's draft report outlines challenges for the sector and offers some ideas on how to achieve that.

“I would like to acknowledge the participation of stakeholders to date and QPC's analysis which has produced a draft report which outlines possible steps the government could take to assist manufacturers through broad-based reform in areas like cost pressures, increasing productivity, and improved coordination and streamlining of government support programs.

“I encourage any interested business, industry representatives or individuals to seize the opportunity to make a submission to the QPC and provide comment on the draft report before the 6 September deadline.

“It also examines the reshoring of Queensland manufacturers which was an election commitment of the Palaszczuk Government. 

“It is fair to say that since we were elected we started implementing a pro-business, pro-jobs agenda to underpin growth in Queensland manufacturing,” he said.

Those business programs included:

• the Jobs and Regional Growth Fund to leverage investment and assist business to grow and expand 
• the Back to Work Employment Package to provide businesses with the confidence to employ jobseekers with $10,000 and $15,000 incentives and a $20,000 Youth Boost payment available until 31 October 2017 for employers hiring jobseekers
• the Made in Queensland initiative which offers support to become more competitive and adopt innovative processes and technologies.

“Together these initiatives and the QPC draft report all add up to a good start to reform which will drive more jobs in the manufacturing sector,” Mr Pitt said. 

“I thank the Queensland Productivity Commission for the work they have done so far on the Inquiry and encourage all stakeholders and interested parties to contribute their views and ideas to the next phase of the Commission’s consultation.”

The draft report can be viewed at www.qpc.qld.gov.au.

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