State of the State Address 2024

It’s a pleasure to be here to present to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia my first CEDA State of the State address.

I have spoken at CEDA events in my other portfolios and I always appreciate the chance to engage with the thought leaders of our state.

I also appreciate the opportunity these events provide for us to outline in some more depth our thoughts on issues and also to be a bit more reflective.

It’s fair to say sometimes in these jobs we move at such a pace we don’t always get the chance to do either of those things.

It is a great honour to be the Premier of Queensland. 

Today, I’ve been Premier for 235 days, just over seven months.

A day I could never have dreamed of, catching the train from Petrie all those years ago.

Back then I just really wanted to make the train cheaper!

What Queenslanders have told me as I have listened to them over those 235 days is that they are experiencing the economy differently at the moment.

One of the cruel things about using interest rates in the way the RBA has to address global inflation is it punishes renters and those with newer mortgages.

It means some Queenslanders are doing very well, while many are really struggling.

For as long as I can remember we always thought an economy delivering for working people was one with low unemployment.

But despite unprecedented low unemployment for some time that isn’t translating to positive experiences for most Queenslanders.

We know that in time as wages increase faster than inflation Queenslanders will get back to where we were before the inflation crisis hit.

What Queenslanders need in the meantime is support.

It’s why our budget measures on things like electricity bills and vehicle rego are designed to help families get through this difficult time and out the other side.

Because that is what good governments do. 

We make sure that everyone has opportunity, and that we look after all of our people.

And we take action on the important issues to make a difference.

In this speech, I want to put what I have done since I became Premier in the context of the challenges of today, and also begin to outline bigger plans for the future that I will take to the election in October.

Let me take you through a taste of what I’ve done these last seven months. 

The first seven months

In December, I launched the SEQ Regional Plan providing the planning framework and infrastructure for almost 900,000 more homes by 2046.

In January, I launched new police helicopter capability in Townsville – a new eye in the sky for North Queensland to enhance community safety.

And it’s made a big difference up there.

In February, I launched our $3.1 billion Homes for Queenslanders plan.

It’s the single largest investment in Queensland housing ever, to build more homes faster, support renters, help first homeowners, boost our social housing and work to end homelessness.

In March, we launched our Women and Girls Health Strategy, backed by over $1 billion.

And we established our Supermarket Pricing Select Committee to hold the supermarkets to account and help drive down household grocery bills.

In April, I launched our evidence-based Community Safety Plan, underpinned by $1.28 billion.

It’s a plan for intervention, prevention and detention where necessary - to support victims, deliver frontline policing, detain offenders to protect the community, intervene when people offend and prevent crime before it occurs.

In May, I announced that every Queensland household would get at least $1,000 off their electricity bill – the biggest cost of living relief initiative of any state government ever. 

In June, we backed that up with our first budget, including $11.2 billion in cost-of-living relief and a record 10.6% increase to the health budget.

And we launched the Putting Queensland Kids First plan, which invests $500 million to make sure our littlest Queenslanders are getting the best start in life so they can have a bright and productive future.

That’s a personal passion of mine -  intervening early to make sure less young people end up on the wrong path.

In July, we opened the seventh of seven brand new satellite hospitals, bringing healthcare closer to home and taking pressure off emergency departments.

That's something I started when I was the Health Minister.

And this month, just yesterday in fact, we launched 50 cent fares on public transport – all modes, all zones, all over the state.

That kid from Petrie finally did it - I made the train cheaper.

We’ve worked hard, we’ve backed the evidence, we’ve taken tough decisions, and now we are seeing signs that we are turning a corner.

Homes for Queenslanders

Take housing for an example.

I’ve spoken before about how fortunate I feel to have had secure housing.

My parents scraped together the money to buy that quarter-acre block in Petrie and build a wonderful family home for me and my sister Kate.

Today, Kim and I have built a good home where we’re raising our three wonderful kids.

I want all Queenslanders to have the same opportunity of knowing what it’s like to have that security.

So, this government is supporting Queenslanders into housing with our Homes for Queenslanders Plan.

Eligibility for the first home concession has been extended to homes with a dutiable value up to $800,000, that's up from $550,000.

We heard from the development industry that infrastructure charges were a barrier to commercial viability.

So, the state will pay those infrastructure charges under a $350 million initiative in the housing plan.

The infill fund has had more than 220 applications in June this year – equating to more than 12,000 new homes and 4,000 lots.

And since its release in April, our State Facilitated Development program to fast-track approvals for new homes has received over 150 enquiries – that could deliver 30,000 new homes.

Data update

Between January and June this year, we added 752 more homes to our social housing stock… that’s a 33 per cent increase on what was added in the prior six months.

In the nine months to March this year, we have assisted 39,942 people through specialist homelessness services… that is 2,528 more people helped than in the same period last year.

Since I have been Premier, the number of households in Housing Investment Fund-supported homes has increased by more than 420 per cent to 615 households and over 1,000 people.

As a result of all that work, and more, there were 141 less families waiting on the social housing register than at the same time last year.

Health

In the face of unprecedented demand in our emergency departments, our hero health workers and our investments have been making a real difference.

Our satellite hospitals have helped reduce emergency visits in their areas by 12 per cent in the March quarter compared to the same period last year.

In the nine months to March this year more than 4,200 more patients were transferred from ambulance to the emergency department within 30 minutes when compared to the same period the year before.

In the most recent quarterly data, more than 36,800 patients had elective surgery – a record for the March quarter.

And long waits for elective surgery dropped 38 per cent in the March quarter compared to the same period in 2023 – a drop of almost 3,000 patients.

Despite record ED presentations, a 7.9 per cent increase in 000 calls, and an 11 per cent rise in category one patients…

… 100 percent of category one patients in our EDs started treatment within two minutes.

Queensland today ranks second in the nation on overall ED wait times.

Community Safety 

Another issue Queenslanders are raising with me is crime.

There’s no simple solution to youth crime.

By and large, Queensland kids are good kids.

But the causes of youth crime are as complex as the world these kids are growing up in.

It means that there is a small cohort of young people who are doing the wrong thing, and Queenslanders can’t be expected to tolerate that.

It’s why we’re investing in prevention, intervention and detention.

There’s more to do, but we are starting to see kids turning back to the right path.

The average number of young people who are serious repeat offenders has fallen 14 per cent in the six months to May this year.

And the first quarter of 2024 saw a 10.7 per cent drop in overall offences committed by young people, compared to the same reporting period last year.

Obviously, any crime is too much crime but we’re on the right track and we need to stay the course to keep Queenslanders safe.

Coal royalties

None of these results would have been possible without significant investment.

And our investments are possible because our economy is strong, thanks to this government taking the strong decisions.

Strong decisions like introducing the progressive coal royalty rates.

Our prosperity has allowed us to make these investments.

And it means I can do more - so much more - if I am given the opportunity.

Four areas of economic opportunity - Future vision

For the last seven months, you can see, we’ve been hyper focused dealing with the here and now.

Just like I promised I would.

But now, as we start to turn the corner on those challenges, I want to talk to you about the future.

About choices.

About vision.

Between now and October, I’ll outline my vision for the Queensland that I want to create.

An unashamedly ambitious vision, backed by the plans and the determination to make it happen.

A vision for a transport system that connects us and seizes the opportunities of growth.

A vision for an energy system that drives down energy costs and sets our economy up to boom for generations to come.

A vision for a health system that brings health care closer to home.

And a vision for our Queensland lifestyle that keeps us the envy of the world. 

Today, I want to start with transport.

It’s timely because we started 50 cent fares yesterday - did I mention that’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was a teenager?

Today I want to tell you more about my plan for an affordable, efficient, accessible, sustainable and connected transport system for Queensland.

Transport

Great transport has the power to create communities, and opportunity, and productivity, and connection.

It drives economic growth and better environmental outcomes.

It is a powerful lever in creating the kind of Queensland I want us to be.

And 50 cent fares are just the start.

Yesterday, Queenslanders saved a about $1 million on the first day of 50 cent fares.

That’s $1 million back in Queenslanders pockets today.

641,900 people used public transport yesterday across South East Queensland alone.

And patronage was up to 94 per cent on pre-COVID levels.

Sure, it’s getting more people to use public transport.

Sure, it’s freeing up our congested roads and sure, it’s good for the environment and for people.

But what I’m really doing in this six-month trial is seeing…

… if every Queenslander who wanted to catch public transport could…

…where would the pinch points be? Where would we need extra services and more park 'n' rides? How can we make this network better?

Benefits of public transport 

Everything we can do to make public transport a great option is a great investment.

We’re investing billions of dollars to build, modernise and update our networks to deliver affordable, accessible, efficient and sustainable transport for all Queenslanders.

Why wouldn’t we do everything we can to get people using it?

This investment supports our growing population now.

And it’s an investment in the future Queensland which is being shaped by the mega projects which will be the legacy of the Brisbane 2023 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

We want to see Queenslanders spending less time in transit, and more time at their destination.

Because a better public transport system creates real productivity gains.

Productivity 

When people spend less time commuting, they can be more productive as individuals, because they have more time for work, leisure activities, and rest.

The studies back this up.

Some studies show a GDP return of 1 to 5 for every dollar invested in public transport – a US study showed for every $1 billion invested there was a $5 billion return in GDP.

Investment

This government’s $37 billion transport big build is the biggest road and transport investment in Queensland history.

And it includes $14 billion of investment in our rail network.

$14 billion – to create the connected rail network of the future.

From the Gold Coast, up through Logan, under the Brisbane River and the CBD and then up to the Sunshine Coast – that’s almost 57 kilometres of new track connecting the spine of the South East corner.

Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3, Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail, and Cross River Rail.

As well as the Sunshine Coast Direct Rail to Caloundra and future stages are planned to get us all the way to Maroochydore.

All backed by the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program building 65 new six-car passenger trains in Maryborough.

The size and scale of the investment is incredible – and it’s not by accident.

Our investments are bringing the Queensland rail network into the 21^st century and improving efficiency.

Faster, easier, more comfortable journeys supported by high-capacity stations to move customers quickly.

Evolution of a disjointed system

Queensland’s public transport system isn’t what it could or should be.

It’s a function of the way the system has evolved – with different levels of government controlling different parts of the network and different modes of transport.

Anyone who has been to Brisbane knows, your train arrives at the station and there’s no bus to take you on the next leg of your journey, or vice versa.

We’ve made progress, don’t get me wrong, it’s better today than it used to be.

Over the last few months, the Brisbane Lord Mayor and I have been working hard together to get our capital city transport humming.

And I want to thank him for working with me to get it done.

As a result the Queensland Government is investing an extra $75 million to add 160,000 extra trips to the Brisbane bus network every year, and to get the Brisbane Metro up and running.

But proper integration is the remaining missing piece.

I'm determined to bring it together.

Independent Transport Authority

That’s why if elected in October I will create an Independent Transport Authority for the South East.

The new Transport Authority will work in conjunction with our local government partners and Queensland Rail, to outline a longer term jointly agreed vision for the growth and evolution of our transport network.

And to set out the future of public transport planning and investment, including key routes, in the South East Queensland region all the way out to the 2032.

Translink will be a one stop shop for trains and buses and making sure they all work together.

Moving out from under the Department of Transport and Main Roads, Translink will have its own board and CEO and be empowered to ensure scheduling, services and planning across our transport system are synchronised.

And if elected we will set up a new all traffic management centre at Kedron.

In a truly multi-modal operations centre, road, rail, bus, light rail and ferry operations will be overseen together as part of one traffic management centre.

Sitting side-by-side at the new Kedron centre, state and local government staff will be able to work together to create a safer, more efficient, more effective and accessible network.

For our hardworking transport workers, this won’t change their pay, conditions, or employment relationship.

What it will mean, is a better, more responsive service for commuters across our state.

Together these measures will create the integration that has been lacking from our public transport system in the South East.

Ultimately the winners are the passengers.

Passengers who will no longer have the state and council running duplicate services on one route and no services on another.

Passengers who will be able to get off their train and jump on the bus that takes them on the next leg of their journey in a seamless system.

Outside the South East, public transport will get a boost too.

We will review the public transport network in Mount Isa, Maryborough, Hervey Bay, Gladstone, and Rockhampton and Yeppoon in the next term of government to improve services, routes and service frequencies.

Regions and roads 

Public transport is critical especially in the south east.

But in a state like Queensland most travel will be by road, especially in rural and regional Queensland.

I’ve spoken already about our record transport investment – what I didn’t mention was that the majority of it is being spent outside the Brisbane metropolitan area.

And that will always be the case under a government I lead.

If elected in October, we will guarantee at least 55 per cent of road funding will be outside Brisbane.

Because I know the regions are the powerhouses.

They're the powerhouses of our state and I know the investment we put into our regions is an investment in the prosperity of the whole state.

For example, from 2027 we will increase our investment in the Bruce Highway to $250 million a year, an increase of $50 million every year.

The Bruce Highway is the economic spine of Queensland, and we need to keep it moving efficiently.

The Bruce Highway Upgrade Program is the largest roads infrastructure program in Queensland.

We’re improving safety, flood resilience and capacity to keep Queensland on the move.

Fuel pricing

It’s no good having great roads if you can’t afford to drive on them.

That’s why we’re slashing car rego by 20 per cent on top of the rego freeze.

Did I mention that once I saved enough to buy a car, I stopped catching the train from Petrie, and started wishing petrol was cheaper!

I know the cost of fuel has been hitting hard for all Queenslanders, and especially those in our regions.

Queenslanders tell me fuel is one of the top items impacting their budgets.

So today I’m announcing that if elected in October I will legislate to limit petrol price rises to once per day and will require online notification of any price rise the day before it happens.

There is no need for fuel prices to be jumping around all day and for retailers to only notify consumers after it has happened.

Western Australia has already adopted this model and I will too.

I will give more power to consumers to get the best price.

We will work with the RACQ to trial a daily limit on increases in fuel prices, to no more than 5 cents a litre. 

The RACQ has identified that Queensland has the least competitive petrol market.

Fewer independent retailers mean higher prices and a longer price cycle.

It’s harder for motorists to predict the best day to fill their tanks.

I am determined to act to deliver more competition because that will mean cheaper petrol for Queenslanders.

So if elected in October I’ll create a fast-track planning pathway to encourage more competition and get smaller independent budget retailers into our market.

I will use the State’s planning powers and publicly-owned Transport and Main Roads’ land to provide a more level playing field for independents and smaller retailers that are charging less.

State owned fuel stations

But that won’t change things fast enough.

Public ownership is how we have kept our energy prices low.

I believe public ownership can increase competition and keep petrol and diesel prices down too.

That’s why today I’m announcing that if elected in October, I will establish 12 new state-owned fuel stations, to increase competition in key locations and drive lower more reliable prices.

Owned by Energy Queensland, our state-owned fuel stations will operate on a cost recovery basis.

They will sell petrol and diesel alongside electric vehicle fast chargers at 12 initial sites to be determined by government, in partnership with industry stakeholders.

Currently when you fuel up your car with petrol you’re sending money offshore to big multinationals.

Our publicly owned fuel stations won’t be taking a profit.

Sites will be selected based on maximising competition and providing motorists with the choice of lower cost fuel.

And we will work with the smaller independent retailers, not against them.

Conclusion

That’s my plan for an affordable, efficient, sustainable and connected transport system for Queensland.

It starts with 50 cent fares, but it is much bigger than that.

I have delivered plans to address the challenges I identified in my first speech as Premier.

On community safety, housing, cost of living, health and early intervention.

And there is evidence those plans are working, and we have turned a corner.

Now I want to tell Queenslanders about my plans for the future.

Starting with transport today, you will also see me talk more about cheaper energy, better healthcare and improving our environment and our lifestyle.

My opponent is doing his very best to avoid outlining any plans at all.

That’s one of the ways he and I are very different.

He wants to be a small target, I want to outline a big vision.

He wants to paint a negative picture of our state, I know Queensland is great and can be even better.

In October, Queenslanders will have a choice.

A choice between my clear and detailed vision for Queensland and an opposition who are unknown and who are determined to stay that way.

I am seeking a mandate for the vision that I have for the future of Queensland.

Mandates are important. 

If governments are going to maintain faith with the community we need to outline our plans for the future rather than asking people to trust us with little or no information on what we will do if we are elected.

A lot will happen between now and October 26.

But I can guarantee you two things:

1. Nobody will ever call me a small target, and
2. I’m not about to die wondering!

ENDS