FAR NORTH HELPS SHAPE Q2: TOMORROW’S QUEENSLAND

Cairns: The benefits of a Far North Queensland environmental initiative was highlighted as an ideal example of an idea needed to guarantee Queensland’s future. Acting Premier Paul Lucas told a community forum this evening.

“Redlynch Valley’s sustainable housing estate with its environmental sensitivity measures shows a lead for other communities to follow,” said Mr Lucas.

Today’s Toward Q2 community forum is one of 30 being held across the State. It follows last Monday night on the Gold Coast, Tuesday night at Strathpine and Thursday in Longreach where more than 550 people in total have offered their ideas.

In his opening address Mr Lucas tonight also drew on Far North Queensland business examples as smart innovators.

Examples he cited included; Access Cold and Dry Storage – introducing a new value-added potato product; Hawker Pacific being approved as a Recognised Service Facility for Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft, Envirotec’s ongoing research and development for refrigeration and dehydrators in the tropics; and Cairns Marine Aquarium Fish’s export success.

He said that the Bligh Government’s Towards Q2 Tomorrow’s Queensland outlines the Government’s plans and priorities for the future.

“Queensland has grown remarkably over recent years, but we must act now if we are to take the next leap forward,” Mr Lucas said.

“Challenges such as unhealthy lifestyles, preventable disease, population growth, and global competition have the potential to destroy our quality of life.

Mr Lucas said the blueprint outlined specific targets for 2020 under five broad headings – strong, green, smart, healthy and fair.

“There is no doubt the targets are ambitious, but if we can do it they will improve our day-to-day lives, our community, our environment and our economy,” he said.

The targets by 2020 are:

Strong – Creating a diverse economy powered by bright ideas

• Building Australia’s strongest economy with infrastructure that anticipates growth
• Increasing by 50% the proportion of Queensland businesses undertaking R&D

Green – Protecting our lifestyle and environment

• Cutting Queenslanders carbon footprint by one third with reduced car and
electricity use
• Protecting 50% more land for nature conservation and public recreation

Smart – Delivering world class education and training

• All children to have access to quality early childhood education so they are ready
for school
• Three out of four Queenslanders to hold trade, training or tertiary qualifications

Healthy – Making Queenslanders Australia’s healthiest people

• Cut obesity, smoking, heavy drinking and unsafe sun exposure by one third
• Reduce public hospital waiting lists to the shortest in Australia

Fair – Supporting caring communities

• Halve the proportion of Queensland children living in households without a
working parent
• Increase the proportion of Queenslanders involved in their communities by 50%

In the year prior to the 2006 Census over 568,000 Queenslanders aged over 15 years indicated that they had spent time undertaking unpaid voluntary work through an organisation or group.

“In Far North Queensland under 20% of the population for this period were involved in formal volunteering,” Mr Lucas added.

“This places the Far North in the bottom five regions in terms of volunteering levels, lagging behind the Central West which recorded the highest percentage of persons who undertook volunteer work at 33.4%.

“Hopefully we will see this number significantly increase as a part of Q2.

Mr Lucas said these priorities would drive the Governments program of action over the next twelve months.

“As a Government we cannot reach these targets alone.

“Everyone will need to play their part in goals such as leading healthier lifestyles and reducing our carbon footprint.”

"Q2 is the government's blueprint for the Queensland we love today - only better."

A report of all ideas submitted at the forum will be on the Q2 website,

www.TowardQ2.qld.gov.au

Media Contact: Acting Premier’s Office 3224 8750